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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The temptations of prosperity insinuate themselves after a gentle, but very powerful, manner. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Characteristic mode of acting, conducting, carrying one's self, or the like; bearing; habitual style. [ 1913 Webster ]

Specifically: (a) Customary method of acting; habit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them. Acts xvii. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

Air and manner are more expressive than words. Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) pl. Carriage; behavior; deportment; also, becoming behavior; well-bred carriage and address; as, mind your manners!. [ 1913 Webster ]

Good manners are made up of petty sacrifices. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) The style of writing or thought of an author; characteristic peculiarity of an artist. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Certain degree or measure; as, it is in a manner done already. [ 1913 Webster ]

The bread is in a manner common. 1 Sam. xxi.5. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Sort; kind; style; -- in this application sometimes having the sense of a plural, sorts or kinds; as, all manners of people came to the rally. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

And they being afraid wondered, saying to one another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him. Luke 8: 25.

Ye tithe mint, and rue, and all manner of herbs. Luke xi. 42. [ 1913 Webster ]

I bid thee say,
What manner of man art thou? Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In old usage, of was often omitted after manner, when employed in this sense. “A manner Latin corrupt was her speech.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

By any manner of means, in any way possible; by any sort of means. --
To be taken in the manner or
To be taken 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Method; mode; custom; habit; fashion; air; look; mien; aspect; appearance. See Method. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having a certain way, esp. a polite way, of carrying and conducting one's self; as, a well-mannered child. [ 1913 Webster ]

Give her princely training, that she may be
Mannered as she is born. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Affected with mannerism; marked by excess of some characteristic peculiarity. [ 1913 Webster ]

His style is in some degree mannered and confined. Hazlitt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. maniérisme. ] 1. Adherence to a peculiar style or manner; a characteristic mode of action, bearing, behavior, or treatment of others. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Adherence to a peculiar style or manner carried to excess, especially in literature or art. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mannerism is pardonable, and is sometimes even agreeable, when the manner, though vicious, is natural . . . . But a mannerism which does not sit easy on the mannerist, which has been adopted on principle, and which can be sustained only by constant effort, is always offensive. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. maniériste. ] One addicted to mannerism; a person who, in action, bearing, or treatment, carries characteristic peculiarities to excess. See citation under Mannerism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being mannerly; civility; complaisance. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With good manners. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Showing good manners; civil; respectful; complaisant. [ 1913 Webster ]

What thou thinkest meet, and is most mannerly. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (linguistics) A word that denotes a manner of doing something; a troponym; as, "march" is a manner name for "walk". [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The characteristic style or manner that a person uses to express himself orally.
Syn. -- delivery. [ WordNet 1.5 ]