maniple — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A division of the Roman army numbering 120 (or sometimes 60) soldiers exclusive of officers; (generally, obsolete) any small body of soldiers.

   Usage

   • Ancient-Rome

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   [T]hey divided the Haſtati, Principes, and Triaris, each of them into 10 companies, making of thoſe three ſorts of ſouldiers 30 ſmall regiments, which they called Manipuli: And again, they ſubdivided each maniple into two equall parts, and called them Ordines, which was the leaſt company in a legion, and according to the rate ſet down by Polybius, contained 60 ſouldiers. […] By this therefore it may appear that a legion conſiſted of four ſorts of ſouldiers, which were reduced into ten cohorts, and every cohort contained three maniples, and every maniple two orders, and every order had his Centurion marching in the head of the troop, and every Centurion had his Optionem, or Lieutenant, that ſtood in the tail of the troop.

   And preſently changing the Order of his March, made his Flank which was next the Enemy thrice as ſtrong as it was before; plac'd ſeveral Spearmen and Slingers between the Battalions or Maniples of foot; planted all the Cavalry in the Wings; And after a brief Excitation to his Soldiers, caus'd the Army in this Figure to file off to the Left, and towards the Plain.

   Crossing the ditch, he was followed first by the men of his own maniple, and then by the whole legion.

   More examples (1)

   Our Army, besides being of an insignificant strength compared with the physical force of the country, and so detached and scattered as to be mere maniples of men, has been so frequently into its original elements of citizenship, and has at all times so mingled with our social institutions, as to appear a homogeneous part of the grand community, and only a better regulated and more effective body of militia.

   He [Ignatius of Antioch] was taken to Rome in the custody of a maniple of ten soldiers.

   More examples (1)

   There was an insane delight to be taken in their mission. They were but two maniples. If the alarm were raised, thousands of Syracusan defenders would rise from their beds, drunk or not, and annihilate them. If it weren't, the rewards would be immeasurable.

2. In Western Christianity, an ornamental band or scarf worn upon the left arm as a part of the vestments of a priest in the Roman Catholic Church, and sometimes the Church of England.

   Usage

   • Historical

   Synonyms

   fanon

   Examples

   More examples (8)

   [T]hey, as men thinking baſelie of ſuch ſimple dealing, adde a great deale more to making of their prieſts: they muſt haue oyle, candels, baſens, tovvels, amices, albes, ſtoals, gyrdles, maniples, miters, bookes, croſſes, linnen, bandes, chalices, patens, ſinging cakes, vvine and vvater, flovver, and ſuch other thinges, trifled and toyed with all, […]

   [T]hen ſhall the Juſtice of the Biſhop (his Officer he means) cauſe a Proceſſion to be made with a Prieſt, habited in an Albe Maniple, and Stole, and Clerks in their Surplices, with Holy-water and a Croſs, the Candleſticks and Incense-pot, with Fire and Incenſe going before, and the Friends of the dead having taken his Body up, ſhall put it on a Biere, and carry it to the Church, where Maſs being ſaid for him, and other Rites performed, they ſhall Inter him as becomes a Chriſtian.

   The Maniple*: We take from you the Maniple, the Ornament of the Sub-diaconal Office, and we ſtrip and deprive you of the Miniſtry deſigned thereby. [Footnote *: Manipulus. An Eccleſiaſticall Veſtment, called alſo the Sudarium, which the Prieſts wear on the left Arm.]

   On inspecting the Body [of Leofric, Abbot IV], they found it quite decayed; but the clothing, particularly the Cassock and Archiepiscopal Pall affixed to it with gilded pins, and the Stole and Maniple, so entire; that it was a matter of wonder to them, how they could have laid so long in that state, and yet continue so perfect as they found them.

   The effigy of this bishop [James Goldwell, Bishop of Norwich] is distinguished by the richness of his vestments, these are the cope, with a rich border of lace, closed on the breast, with a large square morse or fibula; beneath the cope is the dalmatic, alb, stole, &c. as usual, and hanging from the left arm is the maniple.

   Although, in this picture, one of the personages holds the martyr's feet, yet nothing indicates them to have been tied, the saint is dressed in the dalmatic and maniple, which denote the functions that the Apostles had confided to St. Stephen by chusing him for one of the first deacons.

   "Can't say Mass this morning. Can't say Mass. I've forgotten to bring the maniple. No maniple. No Mass. It's that muddle-headed Mrs. Gladstone. I told her to be sure she packed all my vestments. And she's forgotten the maniple." […] Mark knew that Dorward was not serious in refusing to say Mass, and after a short argument it was agreed that the absence of a maniple would not invalidate the Mass.

   The maniple […] is a band of silk brocade, or other material, not unlike a short stole, which is worn over the left fore-arm. The maniple is worn only while celebrating the Holy Eucharist, never at any other service. […] The chasuble, stole and maniple are of the colour of the Festival or Day.

3. A hand; a fist.

   Usage

   • Informal
   • Obsolete

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   His poem, however, is meetly enough entituled—Christ Crucified! But the Rev. William Ellis Wall is worse than [Pontius] Pilate. That "wretch," as this miserable calls the Roman governor, was careful to wash his hands of all guilt in the transaction; but the Rev. William Ellis Wall holds forth triumphantly his two unhallowed and incarnadine maniples of reeking digits, boasting of the infamous achievement in a most egregious preface.

Noun

1. A handful.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   [K]novving you a ſerious Student in the higheſt arcana’s of Nature; and vvith much excuſe vve bring theſe lovv delights, and poor maniples to your Treaſure.

   M., in Medicinal Preſcription, is frequently uſed to ſignify a maniple, or handful: […]