man|age

man|age «MAN ihj», verb, -aged, -ag|ing, noun.

–v.t.

1. to guide or handle with skill or authority; control; direct: »

They hired a man to manage the business. A good rider manages his horse well. Only his mother could manage him.

2. to succeed in doing something; contrive; arrange: »

I shall manage to keep warm with this blanket. How did you manage to paint the whole house in a week? The clumsy waiter managed to spill the soup. He had managed to remain poor all of his life (Edmund Wilson).

3. to make use of: »

He manages tools well.

4. to get one's way with (a person) by craft or by flattering: »

He thoroughly understood the art of managing men, particularly his superiors (John L. Motley).

5. to use or change for one's own purpose; manipulate: »

There has never been an administration…so studiously engaged in trying to manage news (Columbia University Forum).

6. to train or handle (a horse) in the manège.

7. Archaic. to treat carefully; use sparingly; husband: »

to manage one's health, to manage resources.

–v.i.

1. to conduct affairs.

2. to get along: »

We managed on very little money. He managed a whole year upon the proceeds (W.D. Howells).

–n.

1. = manège. (Cf. ↑manège)

2. Archaic. management.

╂[earlier manege < Italian maneggiare handle or train (horses) < mano hand < Latin manus]

Synonym Study transitive verb.1 Manage, conduct, direct mean to guide or handle with authority. Manage emphasizes the idea of skillful handling of people and details so as to get results: »

He manages a large department store.

Conduct emphasizes the idea of supervising the action of a group working together for something: »

The teacher conducted the class on a tour of the museum.

Direct emphasizes the idea of guiding the affairs or actions of a group by giving advice and instructions to be followed: »

An ornithologist directed our bird conservation program.