manly

[man-lee] /ˈmæn li/
adjective, manlier, manliest.
1.
having qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength or bravery.
2.
pertaining to or suitable for males:
manly sports.
adverb
3.
Archaic. in a manly manner.
Origin
before 900; Middle English (adj., adv.); Old English manlīc (adj.), manlīce (adv.). See man1, -ly
Related forms
manliness, noun
Synonyms
Manly, manful, mannish mean having the traits or qualities that a culture regards as especially characteristic of or ideally appropriate to adult men. Manly is usually a term of approval, suggesting traits admired by society, such as determination, decisiveness, and steadiness: a manly acceptance of the facts; manly firmness of character. Manful, also a term of approval, stresses qualities such as courage, strength, and fortitude: a manful effort to overcome great odds. Mannish is most often used derogatorily in reference to the traits, manners, or accouterments of a woman that are thought to be more appropriate to or typical of a man: a mannish abruptness in her speech; She wore a severely mannish suit. See also male.
Antonyms
1. weak, cowardly.
Examples from the web for manly
  • It's a more manly phone and look more modern than the old phone.
  • He envied every daysman and drover in the tavern their manly speech.
  • He is big enough and manly enough now to tell you of his prior falsehoods and his reasons for them.
  • Bachelors and would-be-manly boys are not the only consumers of tobacco, though they are the best patrons of the bar.
  • And it happens as a way of emphasizing gender differences or expressing manly braggadocio.
  • It probably is a matter of manly pride to have had such an encounter.
  • For those out there who dream of being a little more manly, be careful what you wish for.
  • Whatever it is, it's a manly calling, and he's got to smell manly for it.
  • The indignity was unbearable, yet none of us cried out, knowing that such an emotional display would not have been manly.
  • He viewed his father's career in aviation dismissively, as a less manly pursuit than foot-soldiering.
British Dictionary definitions for manly

manly

/ˈmænlɪ/
adjective -lier, -liest
1.
possessing qualities, such as vigour or courage, generally regarded as appropriate to or typical of a man; masculine
2.
characteristic of or befitting a man: a manly sport
Derived Forms
manliness, noun
Word Origin and History for manly
adj.

c.1200, "human; characteristic of human beings," from man (n.) + -ly (1). Sense of "possessing virtues proper to a male person" (resoluteness, steadfastness, reliability) is from early 13c. Meaning "masculine" is attested from late 14c. Old English had werlic "male, masculine, manly."