Manner \Man"ner\, n. [OE. manere, F. mani[`e]re, from OF.
manier, adj., manual, skillful, handy, fr. (assumed) LL.
manarius, for L. manuarius belonging to the hand, fr. manus
the hand. See Manual.]
1. Mode of action; way of performing or effecting anything;
method; style; form; fashion.
The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in
the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the
God of the land. --2 Kings
xvii. 26.
The temptations of prosperity insinuate themselves
after a gentle, but very powerful,manner.
--Atterbury.
2. Characteristic mode of acting, conducting, carrying one's
self, or the like; bearing; habitual style. Specifically:
(a) Customary method of acting; habit.
Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them.
--Acts xvii.
2.
Air and manner are more expressive than words.
--Richardson.
(b) pl. Carriage; behavior; deportment; also, becoming
behavior; well-bred carriage and address.
Good manners are made up of petty sacrifices.
--Emerson.
(c) The style of writing or thought of an author;
characteristic peculiarity of an artist.
3. Certain degree or measure; as, it is in a manner done
already.
The bread is in a manner common. --1 Sam.
xxi.5.
4. Sort; kind; style; -- in this application sometimes having
the sense of a plural, sorts or kinds.
Ye tithe mint, and rue, and all manner of herbs.
--Luke xi. 42.
I bid thee say, What manner of man art thou?
--Coleridge.
Note: In old usage, of was often omitted after manner, when
employed in this sense. ``A manner Latin corrupt was
her speech.'' --Chaucer.
By any manner of means, in any way possible; by any sort of
means.
To be taken in, or with the manner. [A corruption of to
be taken in the mainor. See Mainor.]
To be taken in the
very act. [Obs.]
See Mainor.
To make one's manners, to make a bow or courtesy; to offer
salutation.
Manners bit, a portion left in a dish for the sake of good
manners. --Hallwell.
Syn: Method; mode; custom; habit; fashion; air; look; mien;
aspect; appearance. See Method.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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