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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Man


MAN, noun plural men. [Heb.species, kind, image, similitude.]

1. Mankind; the human race; the whole species of human beings; beings distinguished from all other animals by the powers of reason and speech, as well as by their shape and dignified aspect. 'Os homini sublime dedit.'

And God said, Let us make man in our image, , after our likeness, and let them have dominion--Genesis 1:26.

MAN that is born of a woman, is of few days and full of trouble. Job 14:1.

My spirit shall not always strive with man Genesis 6:3.

I will destroy man whom I have created. Genesis 6:3.

There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man 1 Corinthians 10:13.

It is written, man shall not live by bread alone. Matthew 4:4.

There must be somewhere such a rank as man

Respecting man whatever wrong we call--

But vindicate the ways of God to man

The proper study of mankind is man

In the System of Nature, man is ranked as a distinct genus.

When opposed to woman, man sometimes denotes the male sex in general.

Woman has, in general, much stronger propensity than man to the discharge of parental duties.

2. A male individual of the human race, of adult growth or years.

The king is but a man as I am.

And the man dreams but what the boy believed.

3. A male of the human race; used often in compound words, or in the nature of an adjective; as a man-child; men-cooks; men-servants.

4. A servant, or an attendant of the male sex.

I and my man will presently go ride.

5. A word of familiar address.

We speak no treason, man

6. It sometimes bears the sense of a male adult of some uncommon qualifications; particularly, the sense of strength, vigor, bravery, virile powers, or magnanimity, as distinguished from the weakness, timidity or impotence of a boy, or from the narrow mindedness of low bred men.

I dare do all that may become a man

Will reckons he should not have been the man he is, had he not broke windows--

So in popular language, it is said, he is no man Play your part like a man He has not the spirit of a man

Thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 1 Samuel 17:8.

7. An individual of the human species.

In matters of equity between man and man--

Under this phraseology, females may be comprehended. So a law restraining man or every man from a particular act, comprehends women and children, if of competent age to be the subjects of law.

8. man is sometimes opposed to boy or child, and sometimes to beast.

9. One who is master of his mental powers, or who conducts himself with his usual judgment. When a person has lost his senses, or acts without his usual judgment, we say, he is not his own man

10. It is sometimes used indefinitely, without reference to a particular individual; any person; one. This is as much as a man can desire.

A man in an instant, may discover the assertion to be impossible.

This word however is always used in the singular number, referring to an individual. In this respect it does not answer to the French on, nor to the use of man by our Saxon ancestors. In Saxon, man ofsloh, signifies, they slew; man sette ut, they set or fitted out. So in German, man sagt, may be rendered, one ways, it is said, they say, or people say. So in Danish, man siger, one says, it is said, they say.

11. In popular usage, a husband.

Every wife ought to answer for her man

12. A movable piece at chess or draughts.

13. In feudal law, a vassal, a liege subject or tenant.

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.

MAN of war, a ship or war; an armed ship.