Past tense of manipulate; to handle or control skillfully, or to influence someone unfairly for personal gain.
From Latin 'manipulus' meaning 'handful', originally referring to a Roman military unit. Evolved from literal 'handling by hand' in the 17th century to psychological influence by the 19th century.
The word's journey from Roman military formations to modern psychology shows how language evolves with human understanding. What once described skilled craftsmanship now often carries negative connotations of deception.
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