manipulate (v.)
1827, "to handle skillfully by hand," a back-formation from manipulation. As "to manage by mental influence," especially for one's own purposes, is by 1864. Financial sense is from 1870. By 1949 it served as a euphemism for "masturbate." Related: Manipulated; manipulating.
Entries linking to manipulate
by 1730, a method of digging ore, from French manipulation, from manipule "handful" (a pharmacists' measure), from Latin manipulus "handful, sheaf, bundle," from manus "hand" (from PIE root *man- (2) "hand") + root of plere "to fill" (from PIE root *pele- (1) "to fill"). Sense of "skillful handling of objects" is attested by 1826; extended 1828 to "handling or managing of persons," especially to one's own advantage.
"capable of being manipulated," 1859, from manipulate + -able. Related: Manipulability. Manipulatable is attested by 1900.
updated on November 15, 2018
Dictionary entries near manipulate
manikin
Manila
manilla
manioc
manipulable
manipulate
manipulation
manipulative
manipulator
Manitoba
manitou
