Definition

Noun 1. The terminal part of the arm beyond the wrist, consisting of the palm, fingers, and thumb; the hand. This is the primary and formal term for the human hand, often used in anatomical, zoological, or legal contexts. It refers specifically to the prehensile (grasping) extremity of the forelimb.

Usage

• The word manus is a formal, technical, or literary synonym for "hand." It is rarely used in everyday conversation.
• It is most commonly found in specialized fields like anatomy, zoology (to describe the forepaw of certain mammals), paleontology, and law (e.g., "manuscript" originally meant "written by hand").

Examples

• (Anatomy) The bones of the manus are divided into carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges.
• (Zoology) The primate's manus is highly adapted for grasping branches.
• (Literary/Formal) The sculptor studied the manus in great detail to capture its form perfectly.

Advanced Usage

• In Manu: A Latin phrase meaning "in the hand." It is sometimes used in legal or formal contexts to indicate something is physically held or in someone's possession.
  • The original document is still in manu of the notary.

Variants and Related Words

• Manual (adjective): Relating to or done with the hands (e.g., ).
• Manuscript (noun): A book, document, or piece of music written by hand (from Latin ).
• Manicure (noun): A cosmetic treatment for the hands and fingernails.
• Manipulate (verb): To handle or control something skillfully with the hands.

Synonyms

• Hand
• Mitt (slang)
• Paw (informal for a human hand, or literal for an animal)

Notes on Different Meanings

The word manus has only one core meaning in modern English: the human hand. Its use is almost exclusively technical or deliberately archaic/literary. It does not carry the many figurative meanings (e.g., "a hand in a game of cards," "a worker," "help") that the common word "hand" does.

Noun

1. the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
   • he had the hands of a surgeon
   • he extended his mitt