man

man
{{11}}man (n.) O.E. man, mann "human being, person (male or female); brave man, hero; servant, vassal," from P.Gmc. *manwaz (Cf. O.S., Swed., Du., O.H.G. man, Ger. Mann, O.N. maðr, Dan. mand, Goth. manna "man"), from PIE root *man- (1) "man" (Cf. Skt. manuh, Avestan manu-, O.C.S. mozi, Rus. muzh "man, male"). Plural men (Ger. Männer) shows effects of ↑http://www.etymonline.com/imutate.php i-mutation. Sometimes connected to root *men- "to think" (see MIND (Cf. mind)), which would make the ground sense of man "one who has intelligence," but not all linguists accept this. Liberman, for instance, writes, "Most probably man 'human being' is a secularized divine name" from Mannus [Cf. Tacitus, "Germania," chap. 2], "believed to be the progenitor of the human race."
So I am as he that seythe, `Come hyddr John, my man.' [1473]
Sense of "adult male" is late (c.1000); O.E. used wer and wif to distinguish the sexes, but wer began to disappear late 13c. and was replaced by man. Universal sense of the word remains in MANKIND (Cf. mankind) and MANSLAUGHTER (Cf. manslaughter). Similarly, Latin had homo "human being" and vir "adult male human being," but they merged in V.L., with homo extended to both senses. A like evolution took place in Slavic languages, and in some of them the word has narrowed to mean "husband." PIE had two stems: *uiHro "freeman" (Cf. Skt. vira-, Lith. vyras, L. vir, O.Ir. fer, Goth. wair) and *hner "man," a title more of honor than *uiHro (Cf. Skt. nar-, Armenian ayr, Welsh ner, Gk. aner).
MAN TRAP. A woman's commodity. ["Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence," London, 1811]
Man also was in Old English as an indefinite pronoun, "one, people, they." The chess pieces so called from c.1400. As an interjection of surprise or emphasis, first recorded c.1400, but especially popular from early 20c. Man-about-town is from 1734; the Man "the boss" is from 1918. To be man or mouse "be brave or be timid" is from 1540s. Men's Liberation first attested 1970.
At the kinges court, my brother, Ech man for himself. [Chaucer, "Knight's Tale," c.1386]
{{12}}man (v.) O.E. mannian "to furnish (a fort, ship, etc.) with a company of men," from MAN (Cf. man) (n.). Meaning "to take up a designated position on a ship" is first recorded 1690s. Meaning "behave like a man, act with courage" is from c.1400. To man (something) out is from 1660s. Related: Manned; manning.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Synonyms:
, , , , , , , , , , , / , , , , / / / , , , , , / , / , / (as chess, draughts, etc.)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Man — (m[a^]n), n.; pl. {Men} (m[e^]n). [AS. mann, man, monn, mon; akin to OS., D., & OHG. man, G. mann, Icel. ma[eth]r, for mannr, Dan. Mand, Sw. man, Goth. manna, Skr. manu, manus, and perh. to Skr. man to think, and E. mind. [root]104. Cf. {Minx} a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Man — (m[a^]n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Manned} (m[a^]nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Manning}.] 1. To supply with men; to furnish with a sufficient force or complement of men, as for management, service, defense, or the like; to guard; as, to man a ship, boat, or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • MAN AG — Infobox Company company name = MAN AG company company type = Public company: AG (ISIN|DE0005937007, FWB|EDF1) foundation = 1897 founder = Rudolf Diesel location = flagicon|GER Munich, Germany locations = manufacturing facilities in the Ruhr area …   Wikipedia

  • man — I. noun (plural men) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English man, mon human being, male human; akin to Old High German man human being, Sanskrit manu Date: before 12th century 1. a. (1) an individual human; especially an adult male human (2)… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Man'en — History of Japan Shōsōin Paleolithic 35,000–14,000 BC Jōmon period 14,000–300 BC Yayoi period 300 BC–250 AD Kofun period 250–538 Asuka period …   Wikipedia

  • man — See: COMPANY MAN, EVERY LAST MAN also EVERY MAN JACK, FRONT MAN, HIRED MAN, LADY S MAN, NEW MAN, SEPARATE THE MEN FROM THE BOYS, TO A MAN, YES MAN …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • man — See: COMPANY MAN, EVERY LAST MAN also EVERY MAN JACK, FRONT MAN, HIRED MAN, LADY S MAN, NEW MAN, SEPARATE THE MEN FROM THE BOYS, TO A MAN, YES MAN …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • man — or[the man] {n.}, {slang} 1. The police; a policeman. * /I am gonna turn you in to the man./ 2. The boss; the leader; the most important figure in an organization or outfit. * /The man will decide./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • man — or[the man] {n.}, {slang} 1. The police; a policeman. * /I am gonna turn you in to the man./ 2. The boss; the leader; the most important figure in an organization or outfit. * /The man will decide./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Man ape — Man Man (m[a^]n), n.; pl. {Men} (m[e^]n). [AS. mann, man, monn, mon; akin to OS., D., & OHG. man, G. mann, Icel. ma[eth]r, for mannr, Dan. Mand, Sw. man, Goth. manna, Skr. manu, manus, and perh. to Skr. man to think, and E. mind. [root]104. Cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Man at arms — Man Man (m[a^]n), n.; pl. {Men} (m[e^]n). [AS. mann, man, monn, mon; akin to OS., D., & OHG. man, G. mann, Icel. ma[eth]r, for mannr, Dan. Mand, Sw. man, Goth. manna, Skr. manu, manus, and perh. to Skr. man to think, and E. mind. [root]104. Cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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