Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
noun
A trusted man whose job is to assist and organize someone else's day-to-day business or personal tasks; a personal assistant, a right-hand man; also, a trusted male companion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An aborigine or native, especially one who inhabits an island.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: derogatory, ethnic, offensive, slur
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
the most helpful assistant
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: right-hand man, chief assistant
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: assistant, helper, help, supporter
History
From man (“adult male servant”) + Friday, coined by the English writer Daniel Defoe (c. 1660 – 1731) in his novel Robinson Crusoe (1719) as the name of the protagonist Crusoe’s companion and servant; he is rescued by Crusoe from cannibal captives on a Friday. Crusoe frequently refers to him as “my man Friday”.
Across languages
5 source translations are retained for this English entry.
