manly

Pronunciation: /ˈmænli/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective possessing qualities befitting a man
  2. adjective characteristic of a man
  3. adverb in a manful manner; with qualities thought to befit a man

Etymology

From Middle English manli, manlich, manly, from Old English *manlīċ (suggested by adverb manlīċe (“in a way befitting a person; nobly, stately”)), from Proto-West Germanic *mannlīk, from Proto-Germanic *mannlīkaz, equivalent to man + -ly (adjectival suffix). Cognate with Old High German manlīh (“manly”) (whence German männlich), Dutch mannelijk, Old Norse mannligr (“human”) (Danish mandlig, Swedish manlig).

In classic literature

Synonyms

manful, manlike

Semantic network

Similar
man-sized
Opposite (antonyms)
unmanly

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