(click/touch triangles for details)
Definition
an unusual behavioral traitThe exact meaning of mannerism can depend upon its context. For example:
- "a distinctive mannerism" — an unusual behavioral trait such as rubbing the chin while listening to someone
- "a nervous mannerism" — a distinctive gesture such as thumb twiddling or something else done with hands, body, or voice
- "an affected mannerism" — an attempt to make an impression by speaking, dressing, behaving, or doing things in an exaggerated or unnatural way
Much more rarely, Mannerism can refer to the Mannerism style of painting — a manner of painting common in 16th-century Europe and characterized by elongated human forms and vivid colors.
- Several minor mannerisms are apparent when she is nervous.
- a mannerism she picked up as a pilot
- The impressionist captured all of her mannerisms.
- Greco was influenced both by Mannerism and the painting of icons.
- He recognized the value to him of such a mannerism and he had adopted it; he knew that to be careless in dress and manner required more confidence than to be careful.F. Scott Fitzgerald -- Winter Dreams
- You've borne my guff and my wisecracks and my annoying mannerisms much better than I have any right to expect.Thomas C. Foster -- How to Read Literature Like a Professor
- And not just her looks, but the way she walked, her mannerisms—stiff, without a hint of joy.James Dashner -- The Maze Runner
- Upline is a Krio word mostly used in Freetown to refer to the backwardness of the inner country, its inhabitants, and their mannerisms.Ishmael Beah -- A Long Way Gone
- These were mannerisms appropriate only to dualistic reason.Robert M. Pirsig -- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
- Her every mannerism represented grace.Li Cunxin -- Mao's Last Dancer
- The reason why I said that I had a feeling at that point was because I had only seen his back and his mannerisms at that point.Alice Sebold -- Lucky
- Peter ran a hand through his thick head of silver hair, a nervous mannerism shared by Katherine.Dan Brown -- The Lost Symbol
- Many of their mannerisms, pronunciations, and turns of speech had been consciously copied from white Communists whom they had recently met.Richard Wright -- Black Boy
- He was small and nimble, pacing the school office with his manic yet businesslike movements and mannerisms.Markus Zusak -- The Book Thief
- The last of the Dragonships resembled an elaborate Chinese junk, which was in line with the elegant mannerisms of the Goblin King and his entourage.James A. Owen -- Here, There be Dragons
- It was early October when Daniel first entered our home, a gangly, towheaded boy with rough country mannerisms and a shyness I hadn't anticipated.Nicholas Sparks -- The Longest Ride
- His mannerisms are unusually stiff, as befitting a man speaking before such a massive audience for the first time.Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard -- Killing Kennedy
- To Thomas, everyone's actions and mannerisms seemed .... exaggerated.James Dashner -- The Death Cure
- You learn to pick up on mannerisms, or looks that last just a little too long.Jodi Picoult -- Nineteen Minutes
- Not so much in your appearance, but in your mannerisms.Nicholas Sparks -- The Lucky One
mannerism = a manner (way) of doing things
Search for other examples by interest
Interest — Source
General — Google News®General — Time® Magazine
General — Wikipedia®
Architecture — Google® books - Architecture
Business — Bloomberg®
Business — The Economist®
Classic Literature — Google® books - Classical Literature
Engineering — Google® books - Engineering
Engineering — Popular Mechanics®
Engineering — Discover Magazine®
Fine Arts & Music — Google® books - Art
History — Google® books - History
Human Behavior — Google® books - Psychology
Human Behavior — Psychology Today®
Law — FindLaw®
Law — Google® books - Law
Logic & Reasoning — Google® books - Reasoning
Medicine — Web MD®
Medicine — Google® books - Medicine
Nature & Ecology — National Geographic®
Nature & Ecology — Google® books - Nature
Personal Finance — Kiplinger® (Personal Finance)
Philosophy — Google® books - Philosophy
Public Policy & Politics — Newsweek®
Public Policy & Politics — Real Clear Politics®
Public Policy & Politics — Google® books - Politics
Religion & Spirtuality — Google® books - Religion
Religion - Christianity — Bible Gateway®
Religion - Christianity — Google® books - Christianity
Science — Popular Science®
Science — Scientific American®
Science — Google® books - Science
Sports — Sports Illustrated®