~ 1
■ verb ( past and past participle ~t )
1》 intend to convey or refer to.
↘(of a word) have as its signification in the same language or its equivalent in another language.
↘( ~ something to ) be of a specified degree of importance to.
2》 intend to occur or be the case.
↘( be ~t to do something ) be supposed to do something.
↘(often be ~t for ) design or destine for a particular purpose.
↘( ~ something by ) have as a motive or excuse in explanation.
3》 have as a consequence or result.
Phrases
~ business be in earnest.
~ well have good intentions, but not always carry them out.
Origin
OE mænan , of W. Gmc origin.
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~ 2
■ adjective
1》 chiefly Brit. unwilling to give or share things, especially money.
2》 unkind or unfair.
↘ N. Amer. vicious or aggressive.
3》 poor in quality and appearance.
↘(of a person's mental ability) inferior.
4》 dated of low birth or social class.
5》 informal excellent.
Phrases
no ~ —— very good of its kind: it was no ~ feat.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
ME (orig. in the sense 'common to two or more persons'), shortening of OE gemne , of Gmc origin.
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~ 3
■ noun
1》 (also arithmetic ~ ) the average of a set of quantities. See also geometric ~ .
2》 a condition, quality, or course of action equally removed from two opposite extremes.
■ adjective
1》 calculated as a ~.
2》 equally far from two extremes.
Origin
ME: from OFr. meien , from L. medianus (see median ).