manner

1
[ man-er ]
See synonyms for: mannermanners on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a way of doing, being done, or happening; mode of action, occurrence, etc.: I don't like the manner in which he complained.

  2. manners,

    • the prevailing customs, ways of living, and habits of a people, class, period, etc.; mores: The novels of Jane Austen are concerned with the manners of her time.

    • ways of behaving with reference to polite standards; social comportment: That child has good manners.

  1. a person's outward bearing; way of speaking to and treating others: She has a charming manner.

  2. characteristic or customary way of doing, making, saying, etc.: houses built in the 19th-century manner.

  3. air of distinction: That old gentleman had quite a manner.

  4. (used with a singular or plural verb) kind; sort: What manner of man is he? All manner of things were happening.

  5. characteristic style in art, literature, or the like: verses in the manner of Spenser.

  6. Obsolete.

    • nature; character.

    • guise; fashion.

Idioms about manner

  1. by all manner of means, by all means; certainly.

  2. by no manner of means, under no circumstances; by no means; certainly not: She was by no manner of means a frivolous person.

  1. in a manner, so to speak; after a fashion; somewhat.

  2. in a manner of speaking, in a way; as it were; so to speak: We were, in a manner of speaking, babes in the woods.

  3. to the manner born,

    • accustomed by birth to a high position: He was a gentleman to the manner born.

    • used to a particular custom, activity, or role from birth.

Origin of manner

1
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English manere, from Anglo-French; Old French maniere, from Vulgar Latin manuāria, noun use of feminine of manuārius “handy, convenient” (Latin: “pertaining to the hand”), from Latin manu(s) manus + -ārius -ary

synonym study For manner

3. Manner, air, bearing all refer to one's outward aspect or behavior. Manner applies to a distinctive mode of behavior, or social attitude toward others, etc.: a gracious manner. Air applies to outward appearance insofar as this is distinctive or indicative: an air of martyrdom. Airs imply affectation: to put on airs. Bearing applies especially to carriage: a noble bearing.

Other words for manner

Words that may be confused with manner

Words Nearby manner

Other definitions for manner (2 of 2)

manner2
[ man-er ]

nounOld English Law.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use manner in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for manner

manner

/ (ˈmænə) /


noun
  1. a way of doing or being

  2. a person's bearing and behaviour: she had a cool manner

  1. the style or customary way of doing or accomplishing something: sculpture in the Greek manner

  2. type or kind: what manner of man is this?

  3. mannered style, as in art; mannerism

  4. by all manner of means certainly; of course

  5. by no manner of means definitely not: he was by no manner of means a cruel man

  6. in a manner of speaking in a way; so to speak

  7. to the manner born naturally fitted to a specified role or activity

Origin of manner

1
C12: via Norman French from Old French maniere, from Vulgar Latin manuāria (unattested) a way of handling something, noun use of Latin manuārius belonging to the hand, from manus hand

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with manner

manner

see all kinds (manner of); by all (manner of) means; company manners; in a manner of speaking; to the manner born.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.