manage

Where does the word "manage" come from? It comes from Latin manus, passing through Italian and French before entering English (1500s).

Manage’s story begins in Latin: manus meant “hand.” Italian 'maneggiare' meant handling a horse; the riding school was the 'manège'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as mano. Hand, from Latin manus, the root of maneggiare (to handle, to train horses). From there it passed into French as manege by 1500s. Adapted from Italian for the handling and training of horses. It reached English by 1500s as manage. Settled as the English word for handling or being in charge of something. Today, manage means to be in charge of, control, or successfully handle something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient manus "hand", Italian 'maneggiare' meant handling a horse; the riding school was the 'manège'.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval mano "hand", hand, from Latin manus, the root of maneggiare (to handle, to train horses).
3. Stage 3 · French · 1500s manege "the handling and training of horses", adapted from Italian for the handling and training of horses.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s manage "to handle or be in charge of something", settled as the English word for handling or being in charge of something.