Manual Means By Hand
Manual means done by hand, and also a book of instructions. The Latin *manus* runs through a large family of English words.
Manual means done by hand, and as a noun a handbook of instructions. The Latin *manus*, hand, is one of the most productive roots in English: *manufacture* means making by hand, *manuscript* means written by hand, *manage* comes from handling horses, *manoeuvre* from working by hand, and *emancipate* means releasing from the hand.
- Done by hand. *Manual labour.*
- A handbook. *The user manual.*
- A non-automatic gearbox. *A manual car.*
- Manually — by hand. *Enter it manually.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | manual | Manual control. |
| Noun | manual | A repair manual. |
| Adverb | manually | Operated manually. |
| Related | manufacture | Local manufacture. |
| Related | manuscript | An illuminated manuscript. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Manual override is available.Human control.
- Manufacture literally means made by hand.Though it now means the opposite.
- Emancipate means to release from the hand.Roman law of ownership.
Words from *manus*, hand
- Manual — by hand
- Manufacture — made by hand
- Manuscript — written by hand
- Manage — from handling horses
- Emancipate — to release from another's hand
From Latin *manualis*, from *manus*, a hand. The noun sense of a handbook dates from the fifteenth century.
Does manufacture mean made by hand?
Originally yes. The word now means the opposite in practice, since almost all manufacture is mechanised.
Are manage and hand related?
Yes. Manage comes from an Italian word for handling a horse, from Latin *manus*.