manure

Definition

To cultivate by manual labor; to till; hence, to develop by culture.

Etymology

From Middle English maynouren, manuren (“to supervise, toil”), borrowed from Anglo-Norman meinourer and Old French manovrer (whence also English maneuver, or in French manœuvrer) from Vulgar Latin *manuoperare (“work by hand”), from Latin manū (“by hand”) + operārī (“to work”).

Example Sentences

• "A woman that wandring in our coaſtes hath bought / A plot for price: where ſhe a citie ſet: / To whom we gaue the ſtrond for to manure."
• "Manure thyself then; to thyself be approved; / And with vain, outward things be no more moved."
• "The farmer manured his fallow field."