unmanly
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Meaning
not having or showing the qualities traditionally associated with men, such as courage, strength, or control over emotions.
not typical of or suitable for a man.
Structure
Usage
he was teased for his unmanly interest in poetry.
crying was once considered an unmanly display of emotion.
the propaganda portrayed the enemy as weak and unmanly.
Etymology
The word "unmanly" is a layered English formation built upon the core Germanic concept of "man." The Old English root mann originally meant "person" before its meaning narrowed to specify the male gender. The suffix -līc (modern "-ly") was added to create adjectives denoting possession of a certain quality, thus "manly" came to mean "having the qualities considered appropriate for a man." Finally, the ancient Germanic negative prefix un-, one of the most common and productive negators in English, was prefixed to invert the meaning. The term's evolution reflects changing social constructs, as the definition of "manly" qualities—and therefore what is deemed "unmanly"—has shifted across centuries, moving from a general human virtue to more specific, often culturally prescribed, masculine traits.
Analysis
- un: a prefix of germanic origin (old english un-), meaning "not," used to form words expressing negation or absence. - man: a root of germanic origin (old english mann), meaning "person, human being," later specifically "male adult human." - ly: a suffix of germanic origin (old english -līc), meaning "having the qualities of," used to form adjectives from nouns.