Man"ner (?), n. [OE. manere, F.
manière, 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.
&fist; 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.
