'manage' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'maneggiare', where 'mano' meant 'hand'.

'manage' changed from Old French forms such as 'manegier'/'manage' and from Italian 'maneggiare' and eventually became the modern English word 'manage' through Middle English.

Initially it meant 'to handle (especially horses) or to control by hand', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to direct, control, handle, or cope with'.