mennish

English

Etymology

Modern uses are probably men +‎ -ish; older ones may be from Middle English mennish (“human”), from Old English mennisċ (“human; natural; humane”), from Proto-Germanic *manniskaz (“human, humanity”), from Proto-Germanic *mann- (“man, human, person”), from Proto-Indo-European *mon- or *men-.

Cognate with Old Saxon mennisc, Old High German menniscer, Old Norse menskr, Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌽𐌽𐌹𐍃𐌺𐍃 (mannisks). More at man, mannish.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɛnɪʃ/

• Audio (UK):

  (file)

Adjective

mennish (not comparable)

1. (rare) Like or characteristic of men. (Also used in compounds.)
   • (Can we date this quote by John Bunyan Robinson and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)

     But Men are Mennish[;] don't seek perfect Men.

   • (Can we date this quote by Jennifer Clare Burke and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)

     I hate men and all things mennish!

   • 2010, ‎Elaine Treharne, ‎Greg Walker, The Oxford Handbook of Medieval Literature in English, page 496:

     Among numerous other examples, menniscnyss connoted humanity, a state of being among the mennish race; […]