manière

Manière is a French feminine noun meaning "manner, way, method, fashion." It covers a range of senses tied to how something is done, the style or appearance of something, or social conduct. In everyday use, it can refer to a procedure ("une nouvelle manière de faire"), to stylistic influence or imitation ("à la manière de X"), or to manners and etiquette ("avoir de bonnes manières").

Etymology and related forms: the word derives from Old French manier(e) or mannerie, formed from the verb manier, meaning "to handle, to manage." This in turn is tied to actions of handling or shaping. Cognates appear in other Romance languages, such as Italian maniera and Spanish manera, reflecting a common heritage around the concept of method or style.

Usage and nuance: in modern French, manner tends to be somewhat more abstract or formal than the near-synonym façon. It is common in phrases like "de manière générale" (in general), "de bonne/mauvaise manière" (in a good/bad manner), and "à la manière de" (in the manner of). "Manière" also emphasizes the character or style of an action or work, rather than just the concrete steps taken.

In summary, manière is a versatile term for method, style, and behavior, with nuances that distinguish it from related words like façon. It remains frequent in both spoken and written French, across contexts from etiquette to art and everyday procedure.