Man"ner (?), n. [OE. manere, F. maniere, 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.

⇒ 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, ∨ 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.

© Webster 1913.