manful

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   dated: showing courage, determination, or resolution

   The newspaper praised their manful resistance, using the language of its period.

2. 2
   adj

   historical and gendered: displaying qualities traditionally or stereotypically associated with men

   The memoir described her direct manner as manful, reflecting nineteenth-century gender assumptions.

From Middle English manful, formed from man + -ful. It first praised courage or strength as qualities conventionally assigned to men. Because that association is historically gendered, modern use is uncommon except in older writing or discussion of past attitudes.

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