heartstrings

English

Etymology

PIE word
*ḱḗr
Category:English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European#HEARTSTRINGSCategory:English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European word *ḱḗr#HEARTSTRINGSCategory:English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European#HEARTSTRINGSCategory:English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *strengʰ-#HEARTSTRINGS

From Late Middle EnglishCategory:English terms inherited from Middle English#HEARTSTRINGSCategory:English terms derived from Middle English#HEARTSTRINGS hartestrynges, hert strynges,[1] from Middle EnglishCategory:English terms inherited from Middle English#HEARTSTRINGSCategory:English terms derived from Middle English#HEARTSTRINGS herte (“heart”)[2] + strenges, strynges (“cords, strings”).[3] The English word is analysable as heart +‎ stringsCategory:English exocentric compounds#HEARTSTRINGSCategory:English compound terms#HEARTSTRINGS.[4]

Pronunciation

Noun

heartstrings pl (normally plural, singular heartstring)Category:English lemmas#HEARTSTRINGSCategory:English nouns#HEARTSTRINGSCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#HEARTSTRINGSCategory:English pluralia tantum#HEARTSTRINGSCategory:Pages with entries#HEARTSTRINGSCategory:Pages with 1 entry#HEARTSTRINGS

  1. (anatomyCategory:en:Anatomy#HEARTSTRINGS)
    1. (historicalCategory:English terms with historical senses#HEARTSTRINGS) The tendons or other structures resembling cords once thought to be attached to, or to brace, the heart; especially the aorta, pulmonary artery, and other large arteries connected to them; also, the diaphragm. [15th–19th c.]
    2. (by extension) Synonym of chordae tendineae (“the cord-like tendons that connect the papillary muscles to the tricuspid valve and the mitral valve in the heart”).
      • 2002, “Applied Physiology A”, in Beryl Stretch, editor, BTEC National Health Studies, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Heinemann Educational Publishers, →ISBN, page 481:
        The atrioventricular valves are prevented from turning inside out by strands of connective tissue, which run from their underside to the walls of the ventricle. These are the so-called heartstrings or chordae tendin[e]ae.
        Category:English terms with quotations#HEARTSTRINGS
      • 2005, “Section 2: Heart”, in The Facts on File Illustrated Guide to the Human Body: Heart and Circulatory System, New York, N.Y.: Facts on File, →ISBN, page 40:
        Joined to the free ends of the AV [atrioventricular] valves are a number of cords called chordae tendineae (heart strings) attaching them to muscles in the wall of the ventricle. The heart strings keep the AV flaps pointing in the direction of the blood flow, stopping them being turned "inside out" and forced through the atria. The semilunar valves do not have heart strings. Blood flowing the wrong way makes the cusps balloon out so that their edges seal tight.
        Category:English terms with quotations#HEARTSTRINGS
      • 2014 February 15, Crissy Shreve, chapter 5, in BMom: Lovely Weeds, Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 56:
        [M]y precious Toby Chihuahua, soon to be twelve years old, had a heart attack. As a result, one or more of his chordae tendineae, or heartstrings, ruptured. Until very recently, this condition was curtains for a dog, but new meds are keeping him alive for now.
        Category:English terms with quotations#HEARTSTRINGS
  2. (figurative)
    2. The source of one's deepest emotions or inner feelings, especially compassion or love. [from 16th c.]
      The sad eyes of the orphan tugged at my heartstrings.
      Category:English terms with usage examples#HEARTSTRINGS
    3. (archaicCategory:English terms with archaic senses#HEARTSTRINGS) The essential or vital part of something; the core, the essence, the heart.
      Synonyms: see Thesaurus:gist

Usage notes

Sense 2.1 (“source of one’s deepest emotions or inner feelings”) is often used with words like play, pull, and tug, drawing an analogy between heartstrings and the strings of a musical instrument.[4]

Alternative forms

Derived terms

Translations

References

  1. ↑ “heartstring, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
  2. ↑ “herte, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  3. ↑ “streng, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  4. 1 2 “heartstring, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, March 2024.

Further reading

Category:English noun-noun compound nouns#HEARTSTRINGS Category:en:Emotions#HEARTSTRINGS
Category:English 2-syllable words Category:English compound terms Category:English exocentric compounds Category:English lemmas Category:English noun-noun compound nouns Category:English nouns Category:English pluralia tantum Category:English terms derived from Middle English Category:English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European Category:English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *strengʰ- Category:English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European word *ḱḗr Category:English terms inherited from Middle English Category:English terms with IPA pronunciation Category:English terms with archaic senses Category:English terms with audio pronunciation Category:English terms with historical senses Category:English terms with quotations Category:English terms with usage examples Category:Entries with translation boxes Category:Pages with 1 entry Category:Pages with entries Category:Requests for translations into Galician Category:Terms with Finnish translations Category:Terms with German translations Category:Terms with Japanese translations Category:Terms with Mandarin translations Category:Terms with Norwegian Bokmål translations Category:Terms with Russian translations Category:Word of the day archive Category:Word of the day archive/2024 Category:Word of the day archive/2024/September Category:en:Anatomy Category:en:Emotions