Show To the Manner Born The earliest use of the phrase to the manner born appears to be in Shakespeare's play Hamlet Act 1 Scene 4 where Hamlet says But to my mind though I am native here and to the manner born it is a custom more honored in the breach than in the observance It signifies born to follow or obey a certain practice or custom also having having hav hav- ing l lifelong elong acquaintance with given conditions customs etc It has been wrongly understood to refer to a manor or mansion hence the phrase to the manor born is sometimes used in the sense accustomed accustomed ac accustomed to the usages of a locality or of high or polite society |