sinew
US /ˈsɪn.juː/
UK /ˈsɪn.juː/

1.
tendon, ligament
a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone or bone to bone; a tendon or ligament.
:
•
The hunter carefully cut through the deer's sinews.
Le chasseur coupa soigneusement les tendons du cerf.
•
His leg muscles and sinews were strong from years of running.
Ses muscles et tendons de jambe étaient forts grâce à des années de course.
2.
nerf, force, pilier
the part of a structure, system, or thing that gives it strength or binds it together.
:
•
The economy's sinews were weakened by the recession.
Les forces vives de l'économie ont été affaiblies par la récession.
•
Education is the sinew of a strong society.
L'éducation est le nerf d'une société forte.