[Origin: 1375–1425; < L manuālis (adj.), manuāle (n.) (something) that can be held in the hand (manu(s) hand + -ālis, -āle-al1, -al2); r. late ME manuel < MF < L, as above]
1406, from L. manualis "of or belonging to the hand," from manus "hand, strength, power over, armed force, handwriting," from PIE *men- "hand, to take in one's hand" (cf. O.E. mund "hand, protection, guardian," Ger. Vormund "guardian," Gk. mane "hand"). The noun is attested from 1431 and originally meant "service book used by a priest," from O.Fr. manuel, from L.L. manuale "case or cover of a book, handbook," neut. of L. manualis. Meaning "a concise handbook" of any sort is from 1533.
Main Entry: man·u·al Pronunciation: 'man-y&-w&l Function: adjective : involving or as if involving use of the hands; specifically: of, relating to, or being a gift of a corporeal movable object that is actually delivered <a manual donation> —man·u·al·lyadverb
E*man"ci*pate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emancipated; p. pr. & vb. n. Emancipating.] [L. emancipatus, p. p. of emancipare to emancipate; e + mancipare to transfer ownership in, fr. manceps purchaser, as being one who laid his hand on the thing bought; manus hand + capere to take. See Manual, and Capable.] To set free from the power of another; to liberate; as: (a) To set free, as a minor from a parent; as, a father may emancipate a child. (b) To set free from bondage; to give freedom to; to manumit; as, to emancipate a slave, or a country. Brasidas . . . declaring that he was sent to emancipate Hellas. --Jowett (Thucyd. ). (c) To free from any controlling influence, especially from anything which exerts undue or evil influence; as, to emancipate one from prejudices or error. From how many troublesome and slavish impertinences . . . he had emancipated and freed himself. --Evelyn. To emancipate the human conscience. --A. W. Ward.
Leg`er*de*main"\ (l[e^]j`[~e]r*d[-e]*m[=a]n"), n. [F. l['e]ger light, nimble + de of + main hand, L. manus. See 3d Leger, and Manual.] Sleight of hand; a trick of sleight of hand; hence, any artful deception or trick. He of legierdemayne the mysteries did know. --Spenser. The tricks and legerdemain by which men impose upon their own souls. --South.
Main\, n. [F. main hand, L. manus. See Manual.]1. A hand or match at dice. --Prior. Thackeray. 2. A stake played for at dice. [Obs.] --Shak. 3. The largest throw in a match at dice; a throw at dice within given limits, as in the game of hazard. 4. A match at cockfighting. "My lord would ride twenty miles . . . to see a main fought." --Thackeray. 5. A main-hamper. [Obs.] --Ainsworth.
Main*tain\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Maintained; p. pr. & vb. n. Maintaining.] [OE. maintenen, F. maintenir, properly, to hold by the hand; main hand (L. manus) + F. tenir to hold (L. tenere). See Manual, and Tenable.]1. To hold or keep in any particular state or condition; to support; to sustain; to uphold; to keep up; not to suffer to fail or decline; as, to maintain a certain degree of heat in a furnace; to maintain a fence or a railroad; to maintain the digestive process or powers of the stomach; to maintain the fertility of soil; to maintain present reputation. 2. To keep possession of; to hold and defend; not to surrender or relinquish. God values . . . every one as he maintains his post. --Grew. 3. To continue; not to suffer to cease or fail. Maintain talk with the duke. --Shak. 4. To bear the expense of; to support; to keep up; to supply with what is needed. Glad, by his labor, to maintain his life. --Stirling. What maintains one vice would bring up two children. --Franklin. 5. To affirm; to support or defend by argument. It is hard to maintain the truth, but much harder to be maintained by it. --South. Syn: To assert; vindicate; allege. See Assert.
Man"a*cle\, n. [OE. manicle, OF. manicle, F. manicle sort glove, manacle, L. manicula a little hand, dim. of manus hand; cf. L. manica sleeve, manacle, fr. manus. See Manual.] A handcuff; a shackle for the hand or wrist; -- usually in the plural. Doctrine unto fools is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand. --Ecclus. xxi. 19.
Man"age\, n. [F. man[`e]ge, It. maneggio, fr. maneggiare to manage, fr. L. manushand. Perhaps somewhat influenced by F. m['e]nage housekeeping, OF. mesnage, akin to E. mansion. See Manual, and cf. Manege.] The handling or government of anything, but esp. of a horse; management; administration. See Manege. [Obs.] Young men, in the conduct and manage of actions, embrace more than they can hold. --Bacon. Down, down I come; like glistering Pha["e]thon Wanting the manage of unruly jades. --Shak. The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl. --Shak. Note: This word, in its limited sense of management of a horse, has been displaced by manege; in its more general meaning, by management.
Man"date\, n. [L. mandatum, fr. mandare to commit to one's charge, order, orig., to put into one's hand; manus hand + dare to give: cf. F. mandat. See Manual, Date a time, and cf. Commend, Maundy Thursday.]1. An official or authoritative command; an order or injunction; a commission; a judicial precept. This dream all-powerful Juno; I bear Her mighty mandates, and her words you hear. --Dryden. 2. (Canon Law) A rescript of the pope, commanding an ordinary collator to put the person therein named in possession of the first vacant benefice in his collation. 3. (Scots Law) A contract by which one employs another to manage any business for him. By the Roman law, it must have been gratuitous. --Erskine.
Ma*neu"ver\, Manoeuvre \Ma*n[oe]u"vre\, n. [F. man[oe]uvre, OF. manuevre, LL. manopera, lit., hand work, manual labor; L. manus hand + opera, fr. opus work. See Manual, Operate, and cf. Mainor, Manure.]1. Management; dexterous movement; specif., a military or naval evolution, movement, or change of position. 2. Management with address or artful design; adroit proceeding; stratagem.
Man"i*fest\, a. [F. manifeste, L. manifestus, lit., struck by the hand, hence, palpable; manus hand + fendere (in comp.) to strike. See Manual, and Defend.]1. Evident to the senses, esp. to the sight; apparent; distinctly perceived; hence, obvious to the understanding; apparent to the mind; easily apprehensible; plain; not obscure or hidden. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight. -- Heb. iv. 13. That which may be known of God is manifest in them. --Rom. i. 19. Thus manifest to sight the god appeared. --Dryden. 2. Detected; convicted; -- with of. [R.] Calistho there stood manifest of shame. --Dryden. Syn: Open; clear; apparent; evident; visible; conspicuous; plain; obvious. Usage: Manifest, Clear, Plain, Obvious, Evident. What is clear can be seen readily; what is obvious lies directly in our way, and necessarily arrests our attention; what isevident is seen so clearly as to remove doubt; what is manifest is very distinctly evident. So clear, so shining, and so evident, That it will glimmer through a blind man's eye. --Shak. Entertained with solitude, Where obvious duty er?while appeared unsought. --Milton. I saw, I saw him manifest in view, His voice, his figure, and his gesture knew. --Dryden.
Man"i*ple\, n. [L. manipulus, maniplus, a handful, a certain number of soldiers; manus hand + root of plere to fill, plenus full: cf. F. maniple. See Manual, and Full, a.]1. A handful. [R.] --B. Jonson. 2. A division of the Roman army numbering sixty men exclusive of officers, any small body of soldiers; a company. --Milton. 3. Originally, a napkin; later, an ornamental band or scarf worn upon the left arm as a part of the vestments of a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. It is sometimes worn in the English Church service.
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 takenin, or withthe 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.
Man"tle\, n. [OE. mantel, OF. mantel, F. manteau, fr. L. mantellum, mantelum, a cloth, napkin, cloak, mantle (cf. mantele, mantile, towel, napkin); prob. from manus hand + the root of tela cloth. See Manual, Textile, and cf. Mandil, Mantel, Mantilla.]1. A loose garment to be worn over other garments; an enveloping robe; a cloak. Hence, figuratively, a covering or concealing envelope. [The] children are clothed with mantles of satin. --Bacon. The green mantle of the standing pool. --Shak. Now Nature hangs her mantle green On every blooming tree. --Burns. 2. (Her.) Same as Mantling. 3. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The external fold, or folds, of the soft, exterior membrane of the body of a mollusk. It usually forms a cavity inclosing the gills. See Illusts. of Buccinum, and Byssus. (b) Any free, outer membrane. (c) The back of a bird together with the folded wings. 4. (Arch.) A mantel. See Mantel. 5. The outer wall and casing of a blast furnace, above the hearth. --Raymond. 6. (Hydraulic Engin.) A penstock for a water wheel.
Man"u*al\ (m[a^]n"[-u]*al), a. [OE. manuel, F. manuel, L. manualis, fr. manus hand; prob. akin to AS. mund hand, protection, OHG. munt, G. m["u]ndel a ward, vormund guardian, Icel. mund hand. Cf. Emancipate, Legerdemain, Maintain, Manage, Manner, Manure, Mound a hill.] Of or pertaining to the hand; done or made by the hand; as, manual labor; the king's sign manual. "Manual and ocular examination." --Tatham. Manual alphabet. See Dactylology. Manual exercise (Mil.) the exercise by which soldiers are taught the use of their muskets and other arms. Seal manual, the impression of a seal worn on the hand as a ring. Sign manual. See under Sign.
Man"u*al\, n. [Cf. F. manuel, LL. manuale. See Manual, a.]1. A small book, such as may be carried in the hand, or conveniently handled; a handbook; specifically, the service book of the Roman Catholic Church. This manual of laws, styled the Confessor's Laws. --Sir M. Hale. 2. (Mus.) A keyboard of an organ or harmonium for the fingers, as distinguished from the pedals; a clavier, or set of keys. --Moore (Encyc. of Music). 3. (Mil.) A prescribed exercise in the systematic handing of a weapon; as, the manual of arms; the manual of the sword; the manual of the piece (cannon, mortar, etc.).
Man"u*al\, n. [Cf. F. manuel, LL. manuale. See Manual, a.]1. A small book, such as may be carried in the hand, or conveniently handled; a handbook; specifically, the service book of the Roman Catholic Church. This manual of laws, styled the Confessor's Laws. --Sir M. Hale. 2. (Mus.) A keyboard of an organ or harmonium for the fingers, as distinguished from the pedals; a clavier, or set of keys. --Moore (Encyc. of Music). 3. (Mil.) A prescribed exercise in the systematic handing of a weapon; as, the manual of arms; the manual of the sword; the manual of the piece (cannon, mortar, etc.).
Man`u*fac"ture\, n. [L. manus the hand + factura a making, fr. facere to make: cf. F. manufacture. See Manual, and Fact.]1. The operation of making wares or any products by hand, by machinery, or by other agency. 2. Anything made from raw materials by the hand, by machinery, or by art, as cloths, iron utensils, shoes, machinery, saddlery, etc.
Man`u*mit"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Manumitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Manumitting.] [L. manumittere, manumissum; manus the hand + mittere to send, to send off. See Manual, and Missile.] To release from slavery; to liberate from personal bondage or servitude; to free, as a slave. "Manumitted slaves." --Hume.
Ma*nure"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Manured; p. pr. & vb. n. Manuring.] [Contr, from OF. manuvrer, manovrer, to work with the hand, to cultivate by manual labor, F. man?uvker. See Manual, Ure, Opera, and cf. Inure.]1. To cultivate by manual labor; to till; hence, to develop by culture. [Obs.] To whom we gave the strand for to manure. --Surrey. Manure thyself then; to thyself be improved; And with vain, outward things be no more moved. --Donne. 2. To apply manure to; to enrich, as land, by the application of a fertilizing substance. The blood of English shall manure the ground. --Shak.
Mort"main`\, n. [F. mort, morte, dead + main hand; F. main-morte. See Mortal, and Manual.] (Law) Possession of lands or tenements in, or conveyance to, dead hands, or hands that cannot alienate. Note: The term was originally applied to conveyance of land made to ecclesiastical bodies; afterward to conveyance made to any corporate body. --Burrill.
Mound\, n. [OE. mound, mund, protection, AS. mund protection, hand; akin to OHG. munt, Icel. mund hand, and prob. to L. manus. See Manual.] An artificial hill or elevation of earth; a raised bank; an embarkment thrown up for defense; a bulwark; a rampart; also, a natural elevation appearing as if thrown up artificially; a regular and isolated hill, hillock, or knoll. To thrid the thickets or to leap the mounds. --Dryden. Mound bird. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Mound maker (below). Mound builders (Ethnol.), the tribe, or tribes, of North American aborigines who built, in former times, extensive mounds of earth, esp. in the valleys of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Formerly they were supposed to have preceded the Indians, but later investigations go to show that they were, in general, identical with the tribes that occupied the country when discovered by Europeans. Mound maker (Zo["o]l.), any one of the megapodes. Shell mound, a mound of refuse shells, collected by aborigines who subsisted largely on shellfish. See Midden, and Kitchen middens.
Seal\, n. [OE. seel, OF. seel, F. sceau, fr. L. sigillum a little figure or image, a seal, dim. of signum a mark, sign, figure, or image. See Sign, n., and cf. Sigil.]1. An engraved or inscribed stamp, used for marking an impression in wax or other soft substance, to be attached to a document, or otherwise used by way of authentication or security. 2. Wax, wafer, or other tenacious substance, set to an instrument, and impressed or stamped with a seal; as, to give a deed under hand and seal. Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond Thou but offend;st thy lungs to speak so loud. --Shak. 3. That which seals or fastens; esp., the wax or wafer placed on a letter or other closed paper, etc., to fasten it. 4. That which confirms, ratifies, or makes stable; that which authenticates; that which secures; assurance. "under the seal of silence." --Milton. Like a red seal is the setting sun On the good and the evil men have done. --Lonfellow. 5. An arrangement for preventing the entrance or return of gas or air into a pipe, by which the open end of the pipe dips beneath the surface of water or other liquid, or a deep bend or sag in the pipe is filled with the liquid; a draintrap. Great seal. See under Great. Privy seal. See under Privy, a. Seal lock, a lock in which the keyhole is covered by a seal in such a way that the lock can not be opened without rupturing the seal. Seal manual. See under Manual, a. Seal ring, a ring having a seal engraved on it, or ornamented with a device resembling a seal; a signet ring. --Shak.
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