Discussion Groups / English Usage / December 2006

Hello:

Is "in the manly state" a known euphemism (perhaps obsolete now) for
"having an erection?"

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[This is a passage written by Cass Mastern in his journal during the
Civil War era, thus the language must be appropriate, I assume]

Then she raised her head a little and looked straight at me over the
new candle flames, and I saw all at once that her eyes were not
black. They were blue
...
Then I knew that I was blushing and I felt my tongue dry like ashes in
my mouth and I was in the manly state.

All the King's Men, by Robert Penn Warren, p. 239
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Judging by the author's systematic peppering of his brief plot with
gamey episodes of sexual improvisation, and by the hero's awesome
arousability (a fleeting memory, an unseemly word, and he is in the
manly state), one might think Mr. Faldbakken aspires to become the
Henry Miller of Norway.

http://tinyurl.com/vuzab
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Thanks.
Marius Hancu