heartstring
noun
Did you know?
Heartstring Has a Medical History
Before a love song could tug at your heartstrings, the job was more likely to be accomplished by a surgeon: the word heartstring used to refer to a nerve believed to sustain the heart. You might recognize the word's second syllable in hamstring, which refers to both a group of tendons at the back of the knee and to any of three muscles at the backs of the upper legs. It's also apparent in a rare dialect term for the Achilles tendon: heel string. And in light of these terms, it's not surprising to know that string itself was at one time used independently to refer to bodily cords like tendons and ligaments.
Examples of heartstring in a Sentence
Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025
The beloved British character, Paddington, again tugs on our heartstrings with his respectful manners, thoughtful insights, and compassionate heart.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 12 Feb. 2025
Other videos pulled at my heartstrings, like the participant who opened up about the loss of his son.
—Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025
The photos captured the magnitude of the situation and the goodness in humanity that has come from it, and Max’s story of survival has tugged at the heartstrings of animal lovers worldwide.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartstring
Cite this Entry
“Heartstring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartstring. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
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heartstring
noun
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