heartstrings

heartstrings
heartstrings late 15c., originally literal, in old anatomy theory "the tendons and nerves that brace the heart;" from HEART (Cf. heart) + STRING (Cf. string). Transferred and figurative sense from 1590s.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • heartstrings — [härt′striŋz΄] pl.n. [orig. tendons or nerves formerly believed to brace the heart] deepest feelings or affections …   English World dictionary

  • heartstrings — n. deep feelings to tug at smb. s heartstrings * * * [ hɑːtˌstrɪŋz] [ deep feelings ] to tug at smb. s heartstrings …   Combinatory dictionary

  • heartstrings — [[t]hɑ͟ː(r)tstrɪŋz[/t]] N PLURAL: oft with poss If you say that someone or something tugs at your heartstrings, you mean that they cause you to feel strong emotions, usually sadness or pity. She knows exactly how to tug at readers heartstrings …   English dictionary

  • heartstrings — /hahrt stringz /, n.pl. the deepest feelings; the strongest affections: to tug at one s heartstrings. [1475 85; HEART + STRINGS] * * * …   Universalium

  • heartstrings — heart|strings [ˈha:tˌstrıŋz US ˈha:rt ] n [plural] tug/tear/pull at sb s heartstrings to make someone feel strong love or sympathy …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • heartstrings — heart|strings [ hart,strıŋz ] noun tug/pull/tear at someone s heartstrings to make someone feel a lot of love or sympathy …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • heartstrings — noun (plural) tug /tear at sb s heartstrings to make someone feel strong love or sympathy …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • heartstrings — UK [ˈhɑː(r)tˌstrɪŋz] / US [ˈhɑrtˌstrɪŋz] noun tug/pull/tear at someone s heartstrings to make someone feel a lot of love or sympathy …   English dictionary

  • heartstrings — [ˈhɑːtˌstrɪŋz] noun tug/pull at sb s heartstrings to make someone feel a lot of love or sympathy[/ex] …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • heartstrings — heart•strings [[t]ˈhɑrtˌstrɪŋz[/t]] n. pl. the deepest feelings; the strongest affections: to tug at one s heartstrings[/ex] • Etymology: 1475–85; orig. alluding to tendons that were thought to brace the heart …   From formal English to slang

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