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man·i·cure

(mănĭ-kyr′)

A cosmetic treatment of the fingernails, including shaping and polishing.

tr.v. man·i·cured, man·i·cur·ing, man·i·cures

1. To trim, clean, and polish (the fingernails).

2. To clip or trim evenly and closely: manicure a hedge.

[French : Latin manus, hand; see man-² in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + Latin cūra, care; see CURE.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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