▪ I. † ˈmannish, n. Obs.
In 1–2 mennisc, 2–3 mannisshe, mannisse, mennisse.
[OE. męnnisc, properly neut. of męnnisc adj.: see next. In other Teut. langs. the wk. masc. form of the adj. is used subst. in the sense ‘human being’: cf. OFris. manniska, menska, OS. mennisco (MDu. mensche, Du. mensch), OHG. mennisko (mod.G. mensch).]
People; a class of persons.
| 971 Blickl. Hom. 175 Þis is þæt mennisc þe ealle mine dæda mid heora wordum onwendan. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 225 Þa wearð þa redlice micel mennisc ȝewexon. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 39 Ðese fower mannisshe..beð þat erf þe þo herdes ouerwuakeden. Ibid. 163 Ðis lond þe ich nu of speke is þat mennisse þe nu liueð. Ibid. 165 Swo doð þis mannisse flieð fram iuele to werse. |
▪ II. mannish, a.
(ˈmænɪʃ)
Forms: α. 1 mennisc, 2 mennesc, 3 mennish, Orm. mennisske; β. 4 mannys(s)h, (5 mannisshe, monyssh), 5–6 mannishe, -ysshe, (6 manish, 9 man-ish), 3, 5– mannish.
[OE. męnnisc = OS. mannisc, mennisc, OHG. mennisc (MHG. mennisch), Goth. mannisks:—OTeut. *mannisko-, f. *mann man n.1 + -isko- -ish1. In the 13th c. the root vowel was already frequently assimilated to that of man n.1
In many uses the existing word must be regarded as a new formation on man n.1 + -ish1; but it is hardly possible to separate the instances of this from those of the word inherited from OTeut.]
† 1. Of or belonging to the human species; proper to or characteristic of mankind; human. Obs.
| c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. xxxiii. §1 Forðam þa fif eall nan mennisc man fullice habban ne mæᵹ ða hwile [etc.]. c 897 ― Gregory's Past. C. xi. 70 Ne ᵹegripe eow næfre nan costung buton mennescu. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 91 God cweð..þe he walde his gast asenden ofer mennesc flesc. c 1200 Ormin 218 He..let te posstless sen himm wel Inn hiss mennisske kinde. c 1386 Chaucer Melib. ¶298 The prouerbe seith that for to do synne is mannyssh. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 52 It was as in figure Most lich to mannyssh creature, Bot as of beaute hevenelich. 1567 Drant Horace, Epist. i. xiii. E iij, More meete to beare..Then here in courte in mannishe shape The Asses part to plaie. 1674 N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 183 At the ending of the world there must be stuff enough left, unmade up into Manish bodies, wherewith to frame a new heaven and new earth. |
2. Of a woman, her attributes, etc.: Resembling a man, man-like, masculine. Chiefly contemptuous.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus i. 228 (284) But alle hir limes so wel answeringe Weren to womanhode, that creature Was neuer lasse mannissh in seminge. c 1430 Lydg. Reas. & Sens. 6183 God forbede That ther sholde in womanhede Ben any monyssh tache at al. 1430–40 ― Bochas vi. i. (1494) t ij b, Nowe was she mannyssh nowe was she femynyne. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 136 It is saide, a woman that is not humble and pitous she is mannishe and not womanly, whiche is a uice in womanhode to be rude or of hautinge courage. 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits xv. (1616) 269 She retaineth a mannish fashion..in her words, as in all her motions. 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iii. iii. 217 A woman impudent and mannish growne, Is not more loth'd, then an effeminate man. 1615 Crooke Body of Man 250 Her bodye grew mannish and hairie. 1653 Holcroft Procopius, Goth. Wars iv. 121 They..who think that there was neuer any such Mannish race of women. 1791 F. Burney Diary Aug., Women..strolling along with wide mannish strides. 1824 Miss Mitford Village Ser. i. 239 She spoke in a loud deep mannish voice. 1886 Swinburne Misc. 235 The mannish woman was a nobler as well as a stronger creature than the womanish man. |
3. Pertaining to or characteristic of a grown man (often opposed to childish); aping or simulating manhood or the characteristics of a man.
| 1530 Palsgr. 318/1 Mannysshe or manlyke, viril. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. i. iii. 123 Ros[alind.]..Weele haue a swashing and a marshall outside, As manie other mannish cowards haue, That doe outface it with their semblances. 1611 ― Cymb. iv. ii. 236 And let vs (Polidore) though now our voyces Haue got the mannish cracke, sing him to'th'ground As once to our Mother. 1647 S. Sheppard 2nd Pt. Committee-Man C. i. ii, His chin has..a little downe, enough to give notice to the world, he now growes mannish. 1784 Cowper Tiroc. 208 Childish in mischief only and in noise, Else of a mannish growth. 1820 Lamb Elia Ser. i. Old Benchers of Inner T., Why must every thing smack of man and mannish? Is the world all grown up? 1876 Farrar Marlb. Serm. xxxvi. 369 By manly I mean all that is eager, hearty, fearless, modest, pure; by mannish I mean that which apes the poorest externals of the lowest types of men. |
4. Characteristic (chiefly in blameworthy or ludicrous respects) of a man as distinguished from a woman.
| 1748 Richardson Clarissa I. viii, With an air of mannish superiority, he seems rather to pity the bashful girl. 1836 A. M. Hall in New Monthly Mag. XLVII. 427 True to his man-ish nature, there was a mingling of selfishness with his love. 1882 Hinsdale Garfield & Educ. ii. 407 The foremost students had no mannish pride that made them hesitate to ask her assistance. 1884 Lady Waterford in Hare Two Noble Lives (1893) III. 428 Oh! what a mannish room I waited in... Hats and caps of all sorts, fishing baskets, &c. |
¶ 5. = mankind a.2 Obs. rare.
| 1530 Palsgr. 427/2, I am mannysshe, as a beest is that is accoustumed to byte or devoure men. Je suis humain. It is a mannysshe beest: cest une besté amorcée. |
† 6. quasi-adv. Like a man. Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Merch. T. 292 Men moste enquere..Wher she be..Or riche, or poore, or elles mannyssh wood. |
Hence † menniscleȝc [see -laik], rare—1, humanity; ˈmannishly adv., in a mannish manner.
| c 1200 Ormin 85 He sennde uss..His Sune..To takenn ure mennisscleȝȝc..To lesenn mannkinn. 1867 Bushnell Mor. Uses Dark Th. 287 Some of the least of them march out mannishly in columns and fight pitched battles. |