manly

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English

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Etymology

From Middle English manly, manli, manlich, from Old English *manlīċ (suggested by adverb manlīċe (in a way befitting a person; nobly, stately)), from Proto-Germanic *mannlīkaz, equivalent to man +‎ -ly.

Cognate with Old High German manlīh (manly) (German männlich), Dutch mannelijk, Old Norse mannligr (human) (Danish mandlig, Swedish manlig).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈmænli/
  • (file)

Adjective

manly (comparative manlier, superlative manliest)

  1. Having the characteristics of a man.
    • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. The First Part , 2nd edition, part 1, London: Richard Iones, , published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene vi:
      what God or Feend, or ſpirit of the earth,
      Or Monſter turned to a manly ſhape,
      Or of what mould or mettel he be made,
      What ſtar or ſtate ſoeuer gouern him,
      Let vs put on our meet incountering mindes, []
  2. Having qualities viewed as befitting a man; courageous, resolute, noble.

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English *manlīċ, from Proto-West Germanic *mannlīk, from Proto-Germanic *mannlīkaz; equivalent to mon +‎ -ly (adjectival suffix).

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈmanliː/, /ˈmɔnliː/, /-liːtʃ/

Adjective

manly

  1. Human; pertaining to humankind.
  2. Male, masculine; pertaining to men.
  3. Having qualities befitting a man; courageous, resolute, noble.
Descendants
  • English: manly
  • Scots: manly
References

Etymology 2

From Old English manlīċe; equivalent to mon +‎ -ly (adverbial suffix).

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈmanliː/, /ˈmɔndliː/, /-liːtʃ(ə)/

Adverb

manly

  1. In a human or civilised way.
  2. In a way befitting a man; courageously, resolutely, nobly.
  3. (rare) In a male or masculine way.
References