manly
/ˈmænli/ adjective, adverb, proper noun
Forms manlier manliest Manlys
- adjective Having the characteristics of a man.
- adjective Having qualities viewed as befitting a man; masculine, manful, courageous, resolute, noble.
- adverb In a way befitting a man.
- proper noun A surname.
- proper noun A suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English manli, manlich, manly, from Old English *manlīċ (suggested by adverb manlīċe (“in a way befitting a person; nobly, stately”)), from Proto-West Germanic *mannlīk, from Proto-Germanic *mannlīkaz, equivalent to man + -ly (adjectival suffix).
Cognate with Old High German manlīh (“manly”) (whence German männlich), Dutch mannelijk, Old Norse mannligr (“human”) (Danish mandlig, Swedish manlig).
From Middle English manli, manlich, manly, from Old English manlīċe, equivalent to man + -ly (adverbial suffix).
English and Irish surname, variant of Manley.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Having qualities becoming to a man; not childish or womanish; manlike, esp. brave, courageous, resolute, noble.
- adverb In a manly manner; with the courage and fortitude of a manly man; as, to act manly.
Etymology [Man + -ly. Cf. Manlike.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “manly”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details