manlyadj.
/ˈmanli/, U.S. /ˈmænli/ΘΚΠ
the world > people > [adjective] > relating to mankind
mannisheOE
fleshlyc1175
manlya1225
fleshya1400
human1495
microcosmical1570
microcosmala1644
anthropic1816
microcosmic1816
humanitary1851
hominal1861
hominine1883
neanthropic1894
pan-human1900
sapient1971
a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 43 For none winde of mannliche fandinge.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 88 Swich gruwinge hesde his monliche flesch aȝein þe..pinen þet hit schulde dreȝen.
c1422 T. Hoccleve Tale of Jerelaus (Durh.) l. 783 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 167 Be nat abassht, it manly is to synne, But feendly is longe lye ther-ynne.
a1492 W. Caxton tr. Vitas Patrum (1495) i. xcviii. f. cxxxv/1 The ordenaunces that I haue yeue to them for to kepe, ben manly in asmoche as I that am a man haue enioyned them to kepe them.
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer ii. f. cccxxxixv One of thilke thre wayes of lyues..whiche..arne by names cleaped, bestiallich, resonablich, is vertuous: manlych is worldlich.
1580 Knox's Percel vi Psalme (new ed.) sig. A8 Wee haue another schoolemaister then manly reason.
1635 A. Gil Sacred Philos. Holy Script. ii. xxii. 134 Hee [sc. Satan] thought that God should rather dwell in the being of the Angels..then dwelling in the tabernacle of the manly being.
1667 J. Dryden Indian Emperour ii. i. 17 I'm weary of this flesh which holds us here, And dastards manly Souls with hope and fear.
1743 E. Young Complaint: Night the Fifth 39 Think you the Soul, when this Life's Rattles cease, Has nothing of more Manly to succeed?
2. † c. In extended use: suggestive of characteristics traditionally associated with men, esp. in being strong, resilient, serious, etc. Obsolete.
a. Of a person: having those qualities or characteristics traditionally associated with men as distinguished from women or children; courageous, strong, independent in spirit, frank, upright, etc. Occasionally in early use: †having those qualities or characteristics associated with fighting men (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > manliness > [adjective]
manly?c1225
virtuousc1330
manfula1400
manlikec1480
manful-hardy1542
ballsy1959
studly1966
the world > people > person > man > [adjective] > qualities of
manly?c1225
manlikec1480
virile1490
mannish1530
manful1655
manny1853
dude1879
blokeish1920
butch1949
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 199 Wimmon is þe reisun þet is wittes schile hwen hit unstrengeð þe schulde beo monlich. staðelwurðe. & kene itreowe bileaue.
c1300 Judas Iscariot (Harl.) 33 in F. J. Furnivall Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 108 (MED) Þo heo seȝ hit was a child manlich and fair, Glad heo was and hopede of him to habbe an heire.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 3325 (MED) Þei..hadden gret ioye þa so manli a man wold mele in here side.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 3419 Þe stiward had a newe, but of ȝonge age, on þe manlokest man þat men shold of heren.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 7507 He was honest and manly.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) vi. l. 785 Lykly he was, rycht fair and weill farrand, Mandly and stout.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Sam. iv. 9 Be stronge now and manly ye Philistynes... Be manly and fighte.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 486 War he ane manly man, as he is weill maid, He war full michtie.
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida iv. vi. 107 Manly as Hector, but more dangerous. View more context for this quotation
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. ix. 421 A proud Nobility, a familiar and manly Gentry.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis ix, in tr. Virgil Wks. 485 Inspire your Poet in his high Design; To sing what Slaughter manly Turnus made.
1718 A. Ramsay Christ's-kirk on Green ii. 17 The manly Miller haff and haff, Came out to shaw good Will.
1791 A. Radcliffe Romance of Forest I. v. 172 His person was manly and his air military.
1800 J. Foster Let. 15 Jan. in Life & Corr. J. Foster (1846) I. 124 It is more manly to confess than to extenuate.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits iv. 38 They [sc. the English] are rather manly than warlike.
1879 L. Stephen Hours in Libr. 3rd Ser. ii. 62 He [sc. Fielding] was manly to the last.
1902 W. S. Maugham Mrs. Craddock iii. 21 He was manly, and the..thought passed through Bertha that his strength must be quite herculean.
1928 D. H. Lawrence Lady Chatterley's Lover xix. 353 The wallowing in private emotion, the utter abasement of his manly self, seemed to lend him a second nature.
1997 J. Seabrook Deeper v. 178 I'm way too manly to let this stuff bother me personally.
b. Of a woman: having attributes or features usually regarded as characteristic of a man; mannish.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > woman > [adjective] > man-like woman
mannisha1425
manlyc1511
mankind1566
Amazonical1582
Amazonian1595
virago1598
manlike1605
masculine1611
viraginian1642
viraginous1667
Amazonic1782
strong-minded1843
andromorphous1865
c1511 1st Eng. Bk. Amer. (1885) Introd. 33/1 These women be very manly in fytynge and hardy.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxiijv This wytch or manly woman..the Frenchemen greatly glorified.
a1592 R. Greene Sc. Hist. Iames IV (1598) iv. sig. G4v Dorot. How looke I Nano like a man or no? Nano. If not a man, yet like a manlie shrowe.
1611 T. Heywood Golden Age ii. sig. E I am not yet of that Giant size, but I may passe for a bona Roba, a Rounceual a Virago, or a good manly Lasse.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage (1625) 319 Of which Manly foeminine people [sc. Amazons] ancient authors disagree.
1698 J. Crowne Caligula i. 2 A Manly daring Soul lurks deep, Under this gentle Lady, like outside.
a1777 S. Foote Cozeners (1778) iii. ii. 75 As to fortune, she is totally careless in that... How manly that is in a woman!
1824 W. Irving Tales of Traveller I. 42 My aunt was a lady of large frame..she was..a very manly woman.
1835 T. Creevey Let. 6 Aug. in J. Gore Creevey's Life & Times (1934) xix. 410 She is as manly and correct a little chap as I have seen this many a day.
1875 R. Lowell Under Old Elm viii Virginia, fitly named from England's manly queen!
1992 D. Spoto Blue Angel xii. 188 It was the logical extension of her ‘manly woman’ role.
ΚΠ
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 73 The vigour of the Native Earth Maintains the Plant, and makes a Manly Birth. View more context for this quotation
1799 J. Robertson Gen. View Agric. Perth 470 The house of Auchtertyre, with a manly front of cut granite.
1803 F. W. Blagdon Paris as it Was II. xliv. 86 The architecture has certainly lost that gloomy tint which gave to this building a manly and respectable character.
1864 J. R. Lowell Fireside Trav. 185 It [sc. iron] is a manly metal, with no sordid associations like gold or silver.
1878 H. James Watch & Ward vi. 124 But only a man can talk really to the point of this manliest of cities.
3. Of a thing, a quality, etc.: befitting or belonging to a man; masculine.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > manliness > [adjective] > manly (of things or qualities)
manlyc1385
c1385 G. Chaucer Knight's Tale 2130 Blak was his berd and manly was his face.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 60 Manly complexioun chongiþ in to femel complexioun.
1459 Rolls of Parl. V. 348/2 Exortation..made..in so witty, so knyghtly, so manly, in so comfortable wise.
a1500 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Rawl.) (1896) 45 A man, that..[had] his manly membris y-kute of and cast away, come to his tombe.
1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iii. ii. 53 I saw the wound,..on his manly breast. View more context for this quotation
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iii. ii. 158 A manly enterprise, To coniure teares vp, in a poore maides eyes. View more context for this quotation
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 48 The Germans speech is said to be manly, the Frenchmans sweet and fluent.
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd ii. 225 Therefore with manlier objects we must try His constancy. View more context for this quotation
1681 J. Dryden Absalom & Achitophel 2 His Conscious destiny made way By manly beauty to Imperiall sway.
a1704 T. Brown Oration in Praise Drunkenness in Wks. (1707) I. i. 54 The Drunkards Voice is Hoarse and Manly, not like the squeaking trills of an Eunuch.
1778 R. Potter Notes Tragedies Æschylus 563 This ode..begins with a sublime and manly address to Jupiter.
1851 M. Reid Scalp Hunters III. xii. 152 In my earlier life, I was addicted to what are termed ‘manly sports’.
1894 W. E. Gladstone tr. Horace Odes iii. xxiv. 54 Train we these minds effeminate With thoughts and ways of manlier state.
1935 E. Bowen House in Paris ii. v. 135 Mme Fisher had once remarked that a darting womanish quality, enforced by a manly steadiness of will, made him the figure he was, or promised to be, in his own, the banking, world.
1962 Jrnl. Amer. Optometric Assoc. Nov. 345 In 3 manly colors: Burnt Gold, Charcoal Grey and Brown.
1986 T. O. Echewa Crippled Dancer i. iv. 97 He stored his grief, and prided himself in his manly ability to store it.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adjective] > humane
manlyc1400
humane1603
civil1609
humanitarian1844
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. v. 260 (MED) Artow manlyche amonge þi neiȝbores of þi mete and drynke?
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Shipman's Tale (Hengwrt) 1233 Free was daun Iohn and manly of dispence.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > servility > [adjective]
go-by-ground?a1300
thrall1398
abjectc1430
manly?c1430
servicious1440
serviceable1483
servile1537
tame1563
slavish1565
demiss1572
submissive1572
cringing1579
fawning1585
incrouching?1593
vassal1594
scraping1599
obsequious1602
spaniel1606
observing1609
deprostrate1610
supplea1616
vernile1623
shrugging1629
wormy1640
compliable1641
thrall-like1641
obeisant1642
inservient1646
truckling1656
cringeling1693
benecking1705
subservient1714
footman-like1776
bingeing1805
sidling1821
toadying1863
crawlsome1904
toadyish1909
crawling1941
ass-kissing1942
?c1430 (c1400) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 65 Ȝif þei ȝeuen a benefis..for þe celrk [read clerk] is manly to þe lord in gay cloþinge..it is stynkynge symonye.
6. Of a man or an attribute, etc., of a man: adult, mature.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > adult > [adjective] > adult man
manly1579
virile1603
man-growna1641
1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue Hereticall Affirm. sig. bjv Not that they should alwayes remaine as subject thereunder [i.e. the ordinance of the Lord], but vntill the appoynted tyme, vntill the manly old age in the godly vnderstanding of the holy word.
1621 T. W. tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard 14 Those men..with the sinnes of their middle and manly age, doe fill vp the measure of their iniquities with the vices of a shamelesse old age.
1647 Bp. J. Taylor Θεολογία Ἐκλεκτική xviii. 244 If the Infant vow be invalid till the Manly confirmation.
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses I. 6 William Galeon..did in his Manly Years take upon him the Habit of the Friers of the Order of St. Austin.
1725 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. i. 52 To warn the wretch, that young Orestes grown To manly years shou'd re-assert the throne.
1769 E. Burke Observ. Late State Nation 69 Deficiency of temper, and judgment, and manly comprehension of the public interest.
1837 J. H. Newman Parochial Serm. I. xxvi. 398 Surely these attainments are but our first manly robe.
1850 J. Leitch tr. K. O. Müller Ancient Art (new ed.) §301 339 Important passages in life..reception of the manly himation, marriages, journeys.
1873 J. A. Symonds Stud. Greek Poets vi. 164 In the bloom of manly or of boyish strength.
1998 Chicago Tribune 24 Feb. iv. 6/4 And who would have thought it would be Kemp, the famed man-child of Seattle—manly physically and childish in behavior—who now offers the sage, veteran advice?
Compounds
ΚΠ
1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure II. 131 He was tall, manly-carriag'd, handsome of body and face.
manly-hearted adj.
ΚΠ
1855 F. Douglass My Bondage & my Freedom xx. 315 Hugh was a rough, but manly-hearted fellow.
1863 D. M. Barnes Draft Riots in N.Y. 89 The three manly-hearted officers then rowed with him to the police-boat.
manly-looking adj.
ΚΠ
1835 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz (1836) 2nd Ser. 165 Such a manly-looking young man.
1881 A. Trollope Ayala's Angel III. xlviii. 63 Frank Houston was, at any rate, a manly-looking fellow.
1900 G. Patten Rockspur Nine xvii. 149 He saw big, manly-looking, self-reliant Dick take his position to strike.
1972 B. M. Young tr. U. Akinari Hankai in Harvard Jrnl. Asiatic Stud. 32 200 When you see a manly-looking priest, take him for a scoundrel.
manly-minded adj.
ΚΠ
1650 J. Poole Country Astrol. 38 Gentle. Manly-minded. Full of courage. Stout. Irefull. Earnest. Fearing no danger. Patient. Delighting in warres and manly exercises.
1818 T. Moore Mem. (1853) II. 163 We..walked home in the evening. Scully a good, honest, manly-minded fellow.
1856 Jrnl. Soc. Arts 21 Nov. 10/1 A manly-minded man.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
manlyadv.
/ˈmanli/, U.S. /ˈmænli/ 1. In a manner regarded as typical of a man as distinguished from a woman; manfully, nobly; courageously, fiercely. Now rare (chiefly regional).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > manliness > [adverb]
manlyOE
manfullyc1425
manlikelya1530
manlike1577
viriliously1632
OE Beowulf 1046 Swa manlice mære þeoden, hordweard hæleþa heaþoræsas geald mearum ond madmum.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 311 Haldeð ow inswich reste þet ȝe longe þrefter muȝe i godes seruise monluker wurchen.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13404 And hæhte heom amorȝen monliche arisen.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 207 (MED) Missely marked he is way, & so manly he rides þat alle his wies were went, ne wist he neuer whider.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) 1 Macc. vi. 31 Thei maden engynys..and fouȝten manly.
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) xxi. 94 Þe kyng hase all way agayne-standen him and putt him off mannely.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 341 (MED) Whanne a man is sett forto reioice grete ricchessis, he is sett forto forbere lustis strongli and manli; and whanne he [is] sette forto lacke the ricchessis, he is sett forto suffre peynes strongli and manli.
?a1525 (?a1475) Play Sacrament l. 669 in N. Davis Non-Cycle Plays & Fragm. (1970) 79 And I shall manly, with all my myght, Make the fyre to blase and brenne [emended in ed. to brynne].
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 7227 He met hom full monly with his mayn dynttes.
1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 1st Pt. sig. C5v Faith, and Techelles, it was manly done.
1609 S. Rowlands Famous Hist. Guy Earle of Warwick 41 The ugly beast..Comes at him manly, with most dreadful paws.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. v. 231 Our Souldiers..stood manly to it, with their Bowes and Arrowes.
1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Manly adv., with courage like a man.
1892 R. L. Stevenson & L. Osbourne Wrecker xv. 241 I wish you'd let me tell you..that you've stood out mighty manly and handsomely in all this business, and made every one like you and admire you.
a1908 H. C. Hart MS Coll. Ulster Words in M. Traynor Eng. Dial. Donegal (1953) 179 He faced him manly and he leathered him every way.
1990 T. McEwen McX (1991) iii. 126 McX strides manly to the pantry.
a. Like a human being; (also) humanely, courteously; generously. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adverb] > humanely
manlya1375
humanly1594
humanelya1616
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2040 (MED) I [sc. Alisaundrine]..manly in my maner missaide hire as i dorst.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Macc. ix. 27 Forsothe Y trist hym to do myldly and manly, or curteysly.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds xxvii. 3 Iulius tretynge manly [glossed or kurteysly] Poule suffride for to go to frendis.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. x. 87 Who-so hath moche, spene manliche so meneth Thobie.
1447 in S. A. Moore Lett. & Papers J. Shillingford (1871) 4 Ye wysely declare to fore tham these answers, so that they sey manly yee and nay yu such poyntes as yow thynke to be don.
a1500 Devil's Parl. (BL Add. 37492) (1993) 68 I nyst neuer whedyr it ȝ[o]de; Whanne he ȝaf it vp, manly he cryde.
b. In the manner of postlapsarian man, unregenerately. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > sinfulness > [adverb]
sinfullyc1175
manly1547
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > [adverb] > after the nature of fallen humanity
manly1547
1547 J. Hooper Declar. Christe iv. sig. Dij Let hym tary style in the doctrine of man and lyue as manly and carnally as he list.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adverb]
fairlyOE
goodlyc1275
finec1330
properlyc1390
daintily?a1400
thrivinglya1400
goodlily?1457
excellent1483
excellently1527
excellently1529
curiously1548
jollilyc1563
admirably1570
beautifully1570
singularly1576
bravelyc1600
famouslya1616
manlya1616
primely1622
prime1648
eximiously1650
topping1683
egregiously1693
purely1695
trimmingly1719
toppinglya1739
surprisingly1749
capitally1750
brawly1796
jellily18..
stammingly1814
divinely1822
stunningly1823
rippingly1828
jam up1835
out of sight1835
first-rately1843
first rate1844
like a charm1845
stunning1851
marvellously1859
magnificently1868
first class1871
splendidly1883
sterlingly1883
tip-top1888
like one o'clock1901
deevily1905
goodo1907
dandy1908
bonzer1914
great1916
juicily1916
corkingly1917
champion1925
unbeatably1928
snodger1946
beaut1953
smashingly1956
groovily1970
awesome1984
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. iii. 237 This time goes manly: Come go we to the King, our Power is ready, Our lacke is nothing but our leaue. View more context for this quotation
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.a1225
adv.OE