-mans

See also: mans, Mans, and MANs

English

Alternative forms

• -man, -manes

Etymology

From Latin mēns (“mind”). Cognate with English -ment, French -ment and Italian -mente.

Suffix

-mans

1. (obsolete, UK, thieves' cant) Appended to adjectives to form nouns meaning "the state of being (the adjective)", "the quality of being (the adjective)", or "the measure of being (the adjective)".

   darkmans ← dark

   lightmans ← light

2. (obsolete, UK, thieves' cant) Substitute for part of another word to disguise meaning.

   Cheapmans ← Cheapside

   Gracemans ← Gracechurch Street Market

Synonyms

• (form nouns): -ness

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -mans

References

• Eric Partridge (1949) A Dictionary of the Underworld, London: Macmillan Co.

Anagrams

• MNAs, MNSA, NASM, mnas