to the manner born

English

Etymology

From Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 1, scene 4: "But to my mind, though I am native here / And to the manner born, it is a custom / More honour'd in the breach than the observance."

Pronunciation

• Homophone: to the manor born

Adjective

to the manner born

1. Familiar from birth with a specified custom, behaviour, accoutrement etc.; naturally suited to it.
   • 1977, Gāmini Salgādo, The Elizabethan Underworld, Folio Society 2006, p. 16:

     This [...] involved not only wearing certain clothes as if to the manner born, but being familiar with the gestures and the style of conversation associated with such clothes.

   • 2008, Jeremy Alexander, The Guardian, 10 Nov 2008:

     Stephen Ward, a winger converted to emergency left-back two months ago, now looks to the manner born.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:innate