heartstrings

Noun

1. 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.
   • Harte ſtrynges uenies de cuevr. - [1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Substantyues”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson]...
   • The Ueynes are ſpred foorth throughout the whole bodie, howbeit from one welhead, that is to ſay from the Liuer: ſo be the Sinews, howbeit from the Brayne; So likewiſe are the Heartſtrings, howbeit from the Heart. -...
   • The midriffe and heart-ſtrings do burn and beat very fearfully, and vvhen this vapour or fume is ſtirred, flyeth upvvard, the heart it ſelf beats, is ſore grieved, and faints, […] - 1638, Democritus Junior [pseudonym;...
2. Synonym of chordae tendineae (“the cord-like tendons that connect the papillary muscles to the tricuspid valve and the mitral valve in the heart”).
   • 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...
   • 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...
   • [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,...

   Synonyms: chordae tendineae

3. The source of one's deepest emotions or inner feelings, especially compassion or love.
   • The sad eyes of the orphan tugged at my heartstrings.
   • Soone as ſhe heard the name of Artegall, / Her hart did leape, and all her hart-ſtrings tremble, / For ſudden ioy, and ſecret feare vvithall, […] - 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […],...
   • For thee thou faireſt, yet the falſeſt vvoman, / That ever broke mans heart-ſtrings. - c. 1615–1616, Thomas Middleton, John Fletcher, “The Nice Valour, or, The Passionate Mad-man”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London:...
4. The essential or vital part of something; the core, the essence, the heart.
   • And for to ſeeke out gemmes and ſome little ſtones, vve ſtrike pits deep vvithin the ground. Thus vvee plucke the very heart-ſtrings out of her [the Earth], and all to vveare on our finger one gemme or precious ſtone,...

   Synonyms: bowels sum brass tacks core crux essence gist drift guts gravamen heart heart and soul heartstring heartstrings inwardness kernel marrow meat moral of the story nitty-gritty nub nuts and bolts pith punctum saliens