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.
☞ 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 takenin, or withthe manner. [A corruption of to be taken in the mainor. See Mainor.] To be taken in the very act. 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.