† mannishn.
Obsolete.
1. A kind or race of people; a generation. More generally: men or people collectively; humankind.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > ethnicities > [noun]
thede855
lede971
folkOE
mannishOE
nationc1330
peoplea1375
birtha1400
Santee1698
nationality1832
society > society and the community > social class > [noun] > distinction of class > level or grade
mannishOE
placec1330
state1340
gree1382
conditionc1384
sectc1384
sortc1386
ordera1400
raff?a1400
degreea1425
countenancec1477
faction?1529
estate1530
race1563
calibre1567
being1579
coat1579
rang1580
rank1585
tier1590
classis1597
strain1600
consequence1602
regiment1602
sept1610
standinga1616
class1629
species1629
nome1633
quality1636
sort1671
size1679
situation1710
distinction1721
walk of life1733
walk1737
stage1801
strata1805
grade1808
caste1816
social stratum1838
station1842
stratum1863
echelon1950
OE Blickling Homilies 175 Þis is þæt mennisc þe ealle mine dæda mid heora wordum onwendan.
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xxxii. 274 Eal mennisc wæs synfull, ac drihten gerihtwisode buton geearnungum ðurh his gife ða ða he geceas.
OE Ælfric Let. to Sigeweard (De Veteri et Novo Test.) (Laud) 27 Of Iaphet..com þæt norðerne mennisc be þære Norðsæ.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 39 (MED) Ðese fower mannisshe..beð þat erf.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 163 (MED) Ðis lond þe ich nu of speke is þat mennisse þe nu liueð.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 165 Swo doð þis mannisse flieð fram iuele to werse.
2. Humanity, human nature.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > [noun] > nature of man
mannisheOE
fleshc1000
mannessc1225
mankina1325
mankinda1325
naturec1390
flesh and bloodc1450
human nature1474
humankind?1504
humanities1613
homineity1660
eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xxxvii. 114 Mon mæg gesion þæt hi gio men wæren, ac hi habbað þæs mennisces þonne þone betstan dæl forloren.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 109 Abacuc..wunede on þis weorlde..fela hundred wintre er þe time þe ure drihten understod manisshe and was boren.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 133 (MED) God fundede of heuene to eorðe to fonden [perh. read fongen] mennisshe of þe holie meidenes inneðe.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2000; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
mannishadj.adv.
/ˈmanɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈmænɪʃ/α. Old English mænnisc, Old English mænnissc, Old English mennisc, Old English–early Middle English mennesc, Old English–early Middle English menniss, early Middle English mennish, early Middle English mennissh ( Ormulum), early Middle English mennisske ( Ormulum).
β. Old English monnesce, early Middle English mannisc, Middle English mannisch, Middle English mannissh, Middle English mannysche, Middle English mannysh, Middle English mannyssh, Middle English monish, Middle English monyssh, Middle English–1500s mannishe, Middle English–1500s mannysshe, Middle English– mannish, 1600s 1800s manish, 1800s man-ish.
A. adj.† 4. [Probably after man-keen adj. or mankind adj.2] Furious, fierce, mad; = mankind adj.2 Obsolete. rare.
1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of the human species; human. Now archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > [adjective] > relating to mankind
mannisheOE
fleshlyc1175
manlya1225
fleshya1400
human1495
microcosmical1570
microcosmala1644
anthropic1816
microcosmic1816
humanitary1851
hominal1861
hominine1883
neanthropic1894
pan-human1900
sapient1971
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Tiber.) (Junius transcript) (1871) xi. 70 Ne gegripe eow næfre nan costung buton mennescu.
eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xxxiii. 76 Forðæm þa fif eall nan mennisc man fullice habban ne mæg ða hwile þe he on þisse worulde bið.
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxii. 356 God cwæð..þæt he wolde his gast asenden ofer menniscum flæsce.
lOE tr. R. d'Escures Sermo in Festis Sancte Marie Virginis in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 137 Þeos..of hire agene breostes meolca fedde, & fostrode þone þe is God & mann, þa þa he wæs on mænniscen gecynde hungrig and þurstig.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) Ded. l. 218 He..let te posstless sen himm wel. Inn hiss mennisske kinde.
c1300 St. Mary of Egypt (Laud) 108 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 264 Heo ne et no mannische mete bot weodes and wilde more.
c1390 G. Chaucer Melibeus 2454 The prouerbe seith that for to do synne is mannyssh.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. 1528 A stature..was as in figure Most lich to mannyssh creature; Bot as of beaute hevenlich.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iii. 3443 (MED) Þouȝ his face..Of shap were mannyshe, ȝet..His colour was semblable in liknes Vn-to þe fery, hote, brennynge glede.
1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace Arte of Poetrie sig. Eiijv More meete to beare..Then here in courte in mannishe shape The Asses part to plaie.
1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge 183 At the ending of the world there must be stuff enough left, unmade up into Manish bodies, wherewith to frame a new heaven and new earth.
1868 C. Lofft Ernest (ed. 2) vii. 148 Man, her [sc. Nature's] highest and best work, When fulfilled—else if stunted, lowest [and] worst. Being then a mannish brute—more mischievous Since strengthened with man's organs for brute lust.
1871 Overland Monthly Feb. 183/1 There is a clownish kind of toy, made of light pith or cork cut into a mannish figure about two inches in length.
1955 J. R. R. Tolkien Return of King 406 The Westron was a Mannish speech.
1989 Dragon Nov. 40/3 Tolkien fans, these are..full of background information on the elves, mannish races, and creatures of Middle-[e]arth.
2.
a. Of a woman, a woman's attributes, etc.: resembling (those of) a man, masculine; having characteristics stereotypically associated with men.Chiefly depreciative, though sometimes ameliorated in 20th-cent. uses and subsequently.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > woman > [adjective] > man-like woman
mannisha1425
manlyc1511
mankind1566
Amazonical1582
Amazonian1595
virago1598
manlike1605
masculine1611
viraginian1642
viraginous1667
Amazonic1782
strong-minded1843
andromorphous1865
a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) i. 284 Alle hire lymes so wel answerynge Weren to wommanhod, that creature Was nevere lasse mannyssh in semynge.
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) vi. 62 (MED) Now was she mannyssh, now was she femynyne.
c1450 (?c1408) J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte (1901) 6183 (MED) God forbede That ther sholde in womanhede Ben any monyssh tache at al.
?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 136 (MED) A woman that is not humble and pitous, she is mannisshe and not womanly.
1532 (?a1405) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 415 (MED) And there to speke of femynyte, The leste mannysshe in comparyson.
1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte Exam. Mens Wits xv. 269 She retaineth a mannish fashion..in her words, as in all her motions.
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida iii. iii. 210 A woman impudent and mannish growne, Is not more loth'd then an effeminate man. View more context for this quotation
1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 250 Her bodye grew mannish and hairie.
1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre iv. 121 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian They..who think that there was never any such Mannish race of Women.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa V. xxx. 241 Don't let her bluster up with her worse than mannish airs to me again!
1791 F. Burney Let. Aug. in Jrnls. & Lett. (1972) I. 30 Women..strolling along, with wide Mannish strides.
1824 M. R. Mitford Our Village I. 239 She spoke in a loud deep mannish voice.
1886 A. C. Swinburne Misc. 235 The mannish woman was a nobler as well as a stronger creature than the womanish man.
1926 People's Home Jrnl. Feb. 6/1 She's a trifle mannish, but she'll be good for you. Born to be a leader, so let her go ahead and lead.
1950 Sport 24 Mar. 7/1 I rather feel that all he-women who indulge in these mannish pastimes should have an operation.
1994 Observer 2 Oct. 20/3 Beyond the fact that she was a mannish woman and he a womanly man, they seemed to have little in common except bisexuality.
b. Characteristic of the male sex; manly. In first quot.: putting on a show of manliness or bravery. Occasionally somewhat depreciative.
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) i. iii. 120 Weele haue a swashing and a marshall outside, As manie other mannish cowards haue, That doe outface it with their semblances. View more context for this quotation
1747 S. Richardson Clarissa I. viii. 45 With an air of mannish superiority, he seems rather to pity the bashful girl.
1836 A. M. Hall in New Monthly Mag. 47 427 True to his man-ish nature, there was a mingling of selfishness with his love.
1882 B. A. Hinsdale Garfield & Educ. ii. 407 The foremost students had no mannish pride that made them hesitate to ask her assistance.
1884 Lady Waterford in A. J. C. Hare Two Noble Lives (1893) III. 428 Oh! what a mannish room I waited in... Hats and caps of all sorts, fishing baskets, &c.
1902 W. Carleton Songs of Two Centuries 48 Pa said, with mannish guesses 'Bout a woman's clothin'-life, ‘You are ruther short o' dresses Fur to go to college, Wife.’
1989 I. Murdoch Message to Planet (BNC) Don't ‘come, come,’ me. I hate bullying mannish men. I like gentle men.
3. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a grown man, as opposed to a child; adult, mature.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > man > [adjective] > qualities of
manly?c1225
manlikec1480
virile1490
mannish1530
manful1655
manny1853
dude1879
blokeish1920
butch1949
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 318/1 Mannysshe or manlyke, viril.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) iv. ii. 237 And let vs (Polidore) though now our voyces Haue got the mannish cracke, sing him to'th'ground As once to our Mother.
1647 S. Sheppard 2nd Pt. Committee Man Curried i. ii. 2 His chin has..a little downe, enough to give notice to the world, he now growes mannish.
1694 T. D'Urfey Comical Hist. Don Quixote: Pt. 2nd iv. ii. 41 Then [when I was a hog-keeper], 'twas when I was but a Boy, for when I grew up to be Mannish, I kept Turkeys and Geese, which is counted the better preferment by much.
1785 W. Cowper Tirocinium in Task 208 Childish in mischief only and in noise, Else of a mannish growth. View more context for this quotation
1876 F. W. Farrar In Days of Youth xxxvi. 369 By manly I mean all that is eager, hearty, fearless, modest, pure; by mannish I mean that which apes the poorest externals of the lowest types of men.
1904 J. Joyce Let. 19 Nov. (1966) II. 71 I am getting rather stout and mannish.
1984 J. Phillips Machine Dreams 10 Tom was different because he was mannish and independent.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > savagery > [adjective]
grimlyc893
retheeOE
grim971
bitterOE
bremec1175
grillc1175
grimfula1240
cruel1297
sturdy1297
fiercea1300
fellc1300
boistousa1387
felonousc1386
savagea1393
bestiala1398
bremelya1400
felona1400
hetera1400
cursedc1400
wicked14..
vengeablec1430
wolvishc1430
unnatural?1473
inhuman1481
brutisha1513
cruent1524
felonish1530
mannish1530
abominate1531
lionish1549
boarish?1550
truculent?c1550
unhumanc1550
lion-like1556
beastly1558
orped1567
raw?1573
tigerish?1573
unmanlike1579
boisterous1581
savaged1583
tiger-like1587
yond1590
truculental1593
savage wild1595
tigerous1597
inhumane1598
Neronian1598
immane1599
Phalarical1602
ungentle1603
feral1604
savagious1605
fierceful1607
Dionysian1608
wolvy1611
Hunnish1625
lionly1631
tigerly1633
savage-hearted1639
brutal1641
feroce1641
ferocious1646
asperous1650
ferousa1652
wolfish1674
tiger1763
savage-fierce1770
Tartar1809
Tartarly1821
Neroic1851
tigery1859
Neronic1864
unmannish1867
inhumanitarian1947
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > fierceness > [adjective]
grimlyc893
wrothc893
reighOE
grima1000
grillc1175
witherc1175
grimfula1240
sturdy1297
wild1297
fiercea1300
man-keenc1300
stoutc1300
cruelc1330
fell?c1335
wicked1375
felonousc1386
felona1400
cursedc1400
runishc1400
keen?c1425
roid?c1425
wolvishc1430
ranishc1450
malicious1485
mankind1519
mannish1530
lionish1549
truculent?c1550
lion-like1556
tigerish?1573
tiger-like1587
truculental1593
Amazonian1595
tigerous1597
feral1604
fierceful1607
efferous1614
lionly1631
tigerly1633
feroce1641
ferocious1646
asperous1650
ferousa1652
blusterous1663
wolfish1674
boarisha1718
savage-fierce1770
Tartar1809
Tartarly1821
wolfy1828
savagerous1832
hawkish1841
tigery1859
attern1868
Hunnish1915
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 427/2 I am mannysshe, as a beest is that is accoustumed to byte or devoure men. Je suis humain. It is a mannysshe beest: cest une besté amorcée.
5. Jamaican and among African Americans. Forward, impertinent, ‘full of oneself’.
ΚΠ
1868 T. Russell Etymol. Jamaica Gram. 18 Ga lang yanda sa, you too mannish.
1873 C. J. G. Rampini Lett. from Jamaica 100 He further added—you are too d—n fast, you are too mannish.
1930 S. G. Stoney & G. M. Shelby Black Genesis 133 Out dere in de warm sunshine, 'sputin' wid Br' Rabbit, he been mighty mannish, but in dese cool woods all to heself, he aint near so sure o' t'ings.
1934 Z. N. Hurston Jonah's Gourd Vine 81 He must smell hisself—done got so mannish.
1972 D. Claerbaut Black Jargon in White Amer. 72 Mannish..a black child's way of acting which is deemed rebellious and disrespectful by his mother: Stop acting mannish!
In the manner of a man. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > man > [adverb]
mannishc1395
mannishly1867
man-wise1893
c1395 G. Chaucer Merchant's Tale 1536 Wher she be..A chidester or wastour of thy good Or riche or poure or ellis mannyssh wood.
Derivatives
ˈmannishly adv. in a mannish manner.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > man > [adverb]
mannishc1395
mannishly1867
man-wise1893
1867 H. Bushnell Moral Uses Dark Things 287 Some of the least of them march out mannishly in columns and fight pitched battles.
1989 I. Taylor George Eliot (1990) vi. 69 The daring French woman, who dressed mannishly, smoked cigars and took lovers as freely as a man.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2000; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.eOE
adj.adv.eOE