Mannerism
/ˈmæn.ər.ɪ.zəm/noun
An artistic style marked by deliberate exaggeration, artificiality, and self-conscious elegance.
Did you know?Mannerism comes from Italian maniera, and that word ultimately traces back to Latin manus, meaning “hand,” so the idea began as something done “by hand” or “in one’s own way.”
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
manus
“hand”
Late Latin
LLatin
manuaria
“done by hand; craftsmanship, skill”
Old French
Old French
maniere
“way, method, style, bearing”
16th Century
Italian
maniera
“manner, style, artistic way of doing something”
16th Century
English
mannerisme
“affected or artificial style, especially in art”
Modern English
English
mannerism
“a deliberate or affected style, especially in art or behavior”