Măn1, n.
n. [pl. Mĕn.] [A-S. mann, mona, monn, monn, O. Sax., D., O. H. Ger., & Sw. man, N. H. Ger. mann, Icel. maðr, for maðmer, Dan. mand, Goth. manna, man, from an hypothetical Goth. manas, imp. man, Skr. man, to think.]
Sense 1. An individual of the human race; a human being; a person. “In matters of equity between men and men.” Wolfe.
A man, in an instant, may discover the assertion to be impossible. More.
Sense 2. Especially, an adult male person; a grown-up male, as distinguished from a woman or a boy.
When I became a man, I put away childish things. I Cor. xiii. 11.
Sense 3. The human race; mankind; the totality of men; sometimes, the male part of the race, as distinguished from the female. “Vindicate the ways of God to man.” Pope.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion. Gen. i. 26.
Men that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. Job xiv. 1.
The proper study of mankind is man. Pope.
Woman has, in general, much stronger propensity than man to the discharge of parental duties. Cowper.
In the system of nature, man is ranked as a distinct genus. Encyc. Brit.
Sense 4. One possessing in a high degree the distinctive qualities of manhood; one of manly strength or virtue. “This was a man.” Shak.
I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none. Shak.
Sense 5. A servant of the male sex; a male attendant; a vassal; a subject;—strictly, always with a possessive pronoun.
Like master, like man. Old Proverb.
The vassal or tenant, kneeling, ungirt, uncovered, and holding up his hands between those of his lord, professed that he did become his man from that day forth, of life, limb, and earthly honor. Blackstone.
Sense 6. A married man; a husband.
Every wife ought to answer for her man. Addison.
Sense 7. Sir;—used as a familiar term of address, often with impatience, and in a disparaging sense.
We speak no treason, man. Shak.
Sense 8. A piece with which a game, as chess or draughts, is played.
Man is often used in composition, signifying male, belonging or pertaining to, or becoming, a man or men, and so on, the compounds thus formed being usually of very obvious signification; as, man-child, man-eater, man-eating, man-hater, man-hating, man-killer, man-killing, man-knowledge or man-love (anthropology), man-love (philanthropy), man-lower, man-loving, man-midwife, man-midwifery, man-mountain (giant), man-pleaser, man-servant, man-shaped, man-slayer, man-stealer, man-stealing, man-thief, man-woman (hermaphrodite), man-worship, and the like.
Man of straw, a puppet; one who has no character or influence, or who is led about at the will of another; also, a candidate; a nominee. — Man-of-war, a first class ship of war. — To be one's own man, to have command of one's self; not to be out of one's own control.