I. ˈmēn verb
( meant ˈment ; mean·ing ˈmē-niŋ)
Etymology: Middle English menen, from Old English mǣnan; akin to Old High German meinen to have in mind, Old Church Slavic měniti to mention
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to have in the mind as a purpose : intend
she mean s to win
— sometimes used interjectionally with I, chiefly in informal speech for emphasis
he throws, I mean , hard
or to introduce a phrase restating the point of a preceding phrase
we try to answer what we can, but I mean we're not God — Bobbie Ann Mason
b. : to design for or destine to a specified purpose or future
I was meant to teach
2. : to serve or intend to convey, show, or indicate : signify
a red sky mean s rain
3. : to have importance to the degree of
health mean s everything
4. : to direct to a particular individual
intransitive verb
: to have an intended purpose
he mean s well
• mean·er ˈmē-nər noun
•
- mean business
II. ˈmēn adjective
Etymology: Middle English mene, from imene common, shared, from Old English gemǣne; akin to Old High German gimeini common, Latin communis common, munus service, gift, Sanskrit mayate he exchanges
Date: 14th century
1. : lacking distinction or eminence : humble
2. : lacking in mental discrimination : dull
3.
a. : of poor shabby inferior quality or status
mean city streets
b. : worthy of little regard : contemptible — often used in negative constructions as a term of praise
no mean feat
4. : lacking dignity or honor : base
5.
a. : penurious , stingy
b. : characterized by petty selfishness or malice
c. : causing trouble or bother : vexatious
d. : excellent , effective
plays a mean trumpet
a lean, mean athlete
6. : ashamed 1b
• mean·ness ˈmēn-nəs noun
Synonyms:
mean , ignoble , abject , sordid mean being below the normal standards of human decency and dignity. mean suggests having such repellent characteristics as small-mindedness, ill temper, or cupidity
mean and petty satire
ignoble suggests a loss or lack of some essential high quality of mind or spirit
an ignoble scramble after material possessions
abject may imply degradation, debasement, or servility
abject poverty
sordid is stronger than all of these in stressing physical or spiritual degradation and abjectness
a sordid story of murder and revenge
III. adjective
Etymology: Middle English mene, from Anglo-French mene, meiene, from Latin medianus — more at median
Date: 14th century
1. : occupying a middle position : intermediate in space, order, time, kind, or degree
2. : occupying a position about midway between extremes ; especially : being the mean of a set of values : average
the mean temperature
3. : serving as a means : intermediary
Synonyms: see average
IV. noun
Date: 14th century
1.
a.
(1) : something intervening or intermediate
(2) : a middle point between extremes
b. : a value that lies within a range of values and is computed according to a prescribed law: as
(1) : arithmetic mean
(2) : expected value
c. : either of the middle two terms of a proportion
2. plural but singular or plural in construction : something useful or helpful to a desired end
3. plural : resources available for disposal ; especially : material resources affording a secure life
•
- by all means
- by means of
- by no means