manner Hear it!

manner definition

man·ner (man′ər)

noun

  1. a way or method in which something is done or happens; mode or fashion of procedure
    1. a way of acting; personal, esp. customary, behavior or bearing a sarcastic manner
    2. distinguished bearing or behavior
    1. ways of social life; prevailing social conditions or customs a comedy of manners
    2. ways of social behavior; deportment, esp. with reference to polite conventions good manners, bad manners
    3. polite ways of social behavior; deportment conforming with polite conventions a child who has no manners
  4. characteristic style or method in art, music, literature, etc.
    1. kind; sort what manner of man is he?
    2. kinds; sorts all manner of things

Etymology: ME manere < OFr maniere < VL *manaria < L manuarius, of the hand < manus, a hand: see manual

manner Idioms

by all manner of means

of course; surely

by any manner of means

in any way; at all

by no manner of means

in no way; definitely not

in a manner of speaking

so to speak; in a certain sense or way

to the manner born

  1. accustomed from birth to the way or usage spoken of
  2. naturally fitted for a certain thing

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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