Unsinewed

ppl. a. [f. prec. or UN-¹ 8.] Not furnished with sinews; not sinewy or strong; weakened in sinews, enfeebled.

1541.  R. Copland, Guydon’s Form., S iij. The seconde intencyon is accomplysshed by hote yron in vnsynewed places … and by corosyues, in meane places.

1615.  Daniel, Hymen’s Tri., II. i. Those vnsinewed amorous heardsmen.

1678.  Dryden, All for Love, I. i. Can any Roman see and know him now,… Unbent, unsinew’d, made a woman’s toy?

1863.  W. Lancaster, Præterita, 116. Old brand, art shamed with my unsinew’d gripe?

1872.  R. W. Buchanan, St. Abe, II. v. As each Saint sank unsinew’d, In his arm-chair he continued: ‘Goodman Jones’ [etc.].

  b.  fig. (Cf. prec. 1 b.)

1602.  Shaks., Ham., IV. vii. 10. O for two speciall Reasons, Which may to you (perhaps) seeme much vnsinnowed, And yet to me they are strong.

1643.  Lanc. Tracts Civil War (Chetham Soc.), 169. From him I must expect an unsinewed and faithles agreement.

1683.  Dryden (& Soame), trans. Boileau’s Art Poetry, III. 189. Without these Ornaments before our Eyes, Th’ unsinew’d Poem languishes.

1746.  Francis, trans. Horace, Sat., II. i. 3. My Lines are weak, unsinew’d, others say.