I. ˈmanə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English manere, from Old French maniere, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin manuaria, from feminine of Late Latin manuarius of the hand, from Latin manus hand + -arius -ary — more at manual
1.
a. : kind , sort
what manner of man is he
what manner of train had borne him homeward — Ben Riker
b. : kinds , sorts — now used in the phrase all manner of
observed all manner of important people — Oscar Handlin
picked up all manner of more or less useful information — J.B.Benefield
c. obsolete : nature , character , condition — used in the phrase the manner of
the manner of their work and weary pain — Edmund Spenser
2.
a.
(1) : a characteristic or customary mode of acting : natural or normal behavior : habit , usage , custom
stopped to speak, after the manner of the country — Ellen Glasgow
spoke to all the children, as was his manner
(2) : the mode or method in which something is done or happens : a mode of procedure or way of acting : way , mode , fashion
the manner of entering the water … is important — John Tassos
responded in a lively manner
the manner in which traits are transmitted
in a haphazard and very far from complete manner — R.W.Steel
(3) : method of artistic execution or mode of presentation especially as distinguished from the matter presented : style , form
examples of several earlier manners — Times Literary Supplement
offers plenty of room for many jazz manners — Wilder Hobson
(4) : a method or style characterizing a period or phase of an artist's work
a group of pictures done in his early manner
(5) : a character that marks an artist's work as uniquely his own : a distinctive or personal character, quality, or tone
style belongs to the age, his manner to the poet — J.P.Bishop
manner has been replaced by style — R.B.West
a manner of her own — Henry Reed b.1914
b.
(1) manners plural , archaic : the habitual conduct or moral character of a person
(2) manners plural : social conduct or rules of conduct as shown in the prevalent customs : social conditions : mode of life
the brutal manners of an age given to bear-baiting and similar amusements
the novel is a study in the manners of a class
specifically : the morality of a time as reflected in its prevalent customs or social practices
the licentious manners of a corrupt society
(3) manners plural , archaic : good customs or mode of life
c.
(1) : characteristic or distinctive bearing, air, or deportment
had … manner as distinct from manners — a certain poise, genial but always extremely self-possessed — Joyce Cary
(2) manners plural : habitual conduct or deportment in social intercourse evaluated according to some conventional standard of politeness or civility : behavior
never guilty of bad manners
watch your manners
(3) manners plural : good manners
it wouldn't have been manners — Ruth Park
(4) of an animal : action , deportment — usually used in plural
the dog pointed with excellent manners
(5) manners plural , archaic : forms of courtesy or respect — usually used in the phrase to make one's manners
made their manners to the squire — S.H.Adams
(6) : a distinguished or stylish air
taught to acquire a manner suitable to her station
Synonyms: see method
•
- by any manner of means
- in a manner
- to the manner born
II.
variant of mainour