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 frames his behavior in the "Buffy" and "Angel" era as "uncivilized" and, towards Carpenter specifically as "not mannerly."
From Salon ● Jan. 22, 2022
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
When he formally retired in 1988, colleagues “credited Pryor with a calm and mannerly personality that helped create harmony in the dual appellate and trial court system,” a Washington Post article noted.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 21, 2020
Playing without fans in August likely contributed to the mannerly game, the Rave Green preparing to do the same Sunday when Portland visits CenturyLink Field.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 5, 2020
Despite her rants against him when he wasn’t around, Nana was subdued and mannerly when Jalil visited.
From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini
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.
