manfuladj.
/ˈmanf(ᵿ)l/, U.S. /ˈmænfəl/ 1. Characterized by manly courage and resolution; brave, resolute.Now chiefly applied to struggles or endeavours, esp. those thought unlikely to succeed.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > manliness > [adjective]
manly?c1225
virtuousc1330
manfula1400
manlikec1480
manful-hardy1542
ballsy1959
studly1966
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) 8306 (MED) Werrour art þu, man-ful wight, And many man slayn wid þi hand.
c1475 (c1399) Mum & Sothsegger (Cambr. Ll.4.14) (1936) iii. 103 They mornyd ffor þe morthir of manffull knyȝtis.
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 170 (MED) Sum men hym callyth a corageous man, or a manful man.
a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) ii. iii. sig. n.iiii The inhabitauntes of it manfull and liberall.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Cicero in Panoplie Epist. 36 A stoute and manful minde.
1641 Earl of Monmouth tr. G. F. Biondi Hist. Civil Warres Eng. I. iv. 76 They were inforced after twelve dayes manfull defence to surrender themselves upon discretion.
1823 ‘J. Bee’ Slang 201 Boximania,..the passion or desire to behold manful exertions at fisty-cuffs.
1864 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia IV. xvii. iii. 532 Blakeney and Garrison stood to their guns in a manful manner.
1879 J. Morley Burke 189 A manful attempt was made to get the new constitution to work in the winter of 1791–92.
1891 A. C. Swinburne Stud. Prose & Poetry (1894) 18 The manful good sense which seems naturally to accompany a manly tenderness of nature.
1935 E. R. Eddison Mistress xxi. 441 I have a lad for the work, manful of mind, but as wise as a woodcock.
1989 Scotl. on Sunday 28 May 28 We made a manful attempt, but the first goal was a psychological blow.
2. Occasionally: befitting a man in other respects (as generous, magnanimous); stately in appearance; (also) like a gentleman, courtly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] > of fine or dignified appearance
manfulc1425
handsome1590
fine-looking1754
fine1777
the world > people > person > man > [adjective] > qualities of
manly?c1225
manlikec1480
virile1490
mannish1530
manful1655
manny1853
dude1879
blokeish1920
butch1949
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. 2624 (MED) Þe frute of good is to spende large; And who is manful, set but litel charge To parte frely his tresour in comovne.
1493 Festivall (1515) (de Worde) f. 78v Thomas was as manfull in his araye, for he was clothed in ye best and rychest clothe.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. vii. 425 [He] being shooting at Butts, (a manfull, and healthfull Pastime..).
1879 Theatre Nov. 213 The veriest..minx, who would never have been fathered by that fine old Duke, or lovered by the manful Orlando.
Compounds
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > manliness > [noun]
manshipc1275
manheadc1300
virtuec1330
manhooda1393
manliheadc1425
manful-hardinessc1450
manlinessc1450
manfulnessc1460
virtuosity1543
man1602
manlikeness1742
ruggedness1845
balls1958
c1450 (?a1405) J. Lydgate Complaint Black Knight (Fairf.) 417 in Minor Poems (1934) ii. 400 Shedyng of blode, ne manful hardynesse.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes Pref. **ii Concernyng mannefull hardynesse [L. fortitudinem].
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > manliness > [adjective]
manly?c1225
virtuousc1330
manfula1400
manlikec1480
manful-hardy1542
ballsy1959
studly1966
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 15 Such as be manful hardye [L. fortes].
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.a1400