Antonyms for muscle
| Grammar : Noun |
| Spell : muhs-uhl |
| Phonetic Transcription : ˈmʌs əl |
Definition of muscle
Origin :- late 14c., from Middle French muscle "muscle, sinew" (14c.) and directly from Latin musculus "a muscle," literally "little mouse," diminutive of mus "mouse" (see mouse (n.)).
- So called because the shape and movement of some muscles (notably biceps) were thought to resemble mice. The analogy was made in Greek, too, where mys is both "mouse" and "muscle," and its comb. form gives the medical prefix myo-. Cf. also Old Church Slavonic mysi "mouse," mysica "arm;" German Maus "mouse; muscle," Arabic 'adalah "muscle," 'adal "field mouse." In Middle English, lacerte, from the Latin word for "lizard," also was used as a word for a muscle.
- Musclez & lacertez bene one selfe þing, Bot þe muscle is said to þe fourme of mouse & lacert to þe fourme of a lizard. [Guy de Chauliac, "Grande Chirurgie," c.1425]
- Hence muscular and mousy are relatives, and a Middle English word for "muscular" was lacertous, "lizardy." Figurative sense of "force, violence, threat of violence" is 1930, American English. Muscle car "hot rod" is from 1969.
- noun large fibers of animal body
- noun power, influence
- In a swerve he almost stopped, every muscle of his big body trembling in affright.
- Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser
- The tall son of Hanover was lean of flesh, but gross in muscle.
- Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser
- "Ah, but he has mind as well as muscle," put in Mr. Stewart.
- Extract from : « In the Valley » by Harold Frederic
- There was some tension of mind or muscle that kept sleep far from him.
- Extract from : « The Rock of Chickamauga » by Joseph A. Altsheler
- She came up straight and tall, a concluded resolution in every muscle.
- Extract from : « Tiverton Tales » by Alice Brown
- And not a muscle of his face stirred; he simply gazed into the void.
- Extract from : « The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete » by Emile Zola
- He had not touched a muscle or a muscular nerve; what then was the nature of these movements?
- Extract from : « Self-Help » by Samuel Smiles
- It was all muscle, bone, and sinew-fighting flesh in the finest condition.
- Extract from : « White Fang » by Jack London
- It cannot digest itself; it cannot of its own accord turn into bone and muscle and blood.
- Extract from : « The Child and the Curriculum » by John Dewey
- Impertinence, gayety, agility, muscle—that was what women loved in men.
- Extract from : « A Spirit in Prison » by Robert Hichens
Synonyms for muscle
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019