Manhood Meaning
/ˈmænhʊd/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe state or condition of being a human being.
nounThe state or condition of being a man, as contrasted with being a boy, woman, girl, or nonbinary.
Sentence Examples
Most athletes are at their best during their early manhood.
He is now in the prime of manhood.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The traditional coming-of-age ceremony formally marked his transition into ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The young boy was very eager to reach ____ and take on the many responsibilities that come with it.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English manhode, also manhede (> obsolete English manhead), equivalent to man + -hood. Cognate with Middle Dutch manheit (“manhood”), Middle Low German manheit (whence German Low German Mannheit (“manhood”)), German Mannheit (“manhood”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Thou seemest human and divine,
The highest, holiest manhood, thou."
— 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Prologue”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
"The Caves of Ajanta, the medieval Courts of Love, the epithalamia of the erotic poets [...] all testify to the glorification of manhood, the supremacy of the sex motif."
— 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page iii:
"[…] it was not until the year 1870, after the republic had been completely drained of its manhood and resources, that the long war was terminated by the capture and death of Lopez […]"
— 1908, L. Brent Vaughan (Editor), The New Standard History of the World Volume 2, page 809
"But he thanked them all the same for the good example they had shown the county and the country, that in time of trouble, in time of difficulty, and in time of doubt, the manhood of this district and of the surrounding district, and the manhood of Clan Desmond should show their faith in the old grand ideals of a free and united Ireland (cheers)."
— 1914, D.J. Griffin, Hon. Sec. Castleisland, Kerry, Ireland, Article from the Newspaper "Ireland", Wednesday, November 11, 1914 Title: "Kerry Staunch and True, Great Meeting in Castleisland"
"But nosin’ down the roadway past the bones of other wrecks / Goes the doughty little gunboat with her manhood on her decks!"
— 1916, Dana Burnet (American Poet), Excerpt from the poem: "The Gunboat"
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The traditional coming-of-age ceremony formally marked his transition into ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The young boy was very eager to reach ____ and take on the many responsibilities that come with it.