mannerly
Americanadjective
adverb
adjective
adverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of mannerly
First recorded in 1325–75, mannerly is from the Middle English word manerly. See manner 1, -ly
Explanation
If you're mannerly, you're extremely well-behaved and polite. You might be so mannerly at your best friend's house that your parents wouldn't even recognize you! Mannerly is another way to say "well-mannered." If you're mannerly, your manners are impeccable — you follow all the appropriate rules of etiquette. While mannerly people keep their elbows off the table and their napkins in their laps, people who are not mannerly might talk loudly with their mouths full or eat off their neighbors' plates.
Vocabulary lists containing mannerly
The Winter's Tale
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Two Gentlemen of Verona
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Whedon told New York magazine he was "not mannerly" with Carpenter when she told him she was pregnant, but denied having ever called her fat.
From BBC • Jan. 18, 2022
I was expecting chaos and disruption but found mannerly and fun loving kids who were respectful and delightful to cashier and surroundings.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 21, 2021
At the previous debate, Mr. Biden quickly abandoned mannerly efforts to draw contrasts with her, and other high-polling rivals had until Tuesday largely refrained from issuing piercing criticism onstage.
From New York Times • Oct. 15, 2019
Today’s barbarians are well-suited, mannerly and astute, especially at shrewdly gauging the ebbs and flows of digital capitalism.
From Salon • Jan. 29, 2019
The neat children were mannerly not only to adults but to other children as well.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
