Meaner : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: Meaner	by the DICT Development Group
1 result for Meaner
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Mean \Mean\, a. [Compar. {Meaner}; superl. {Meanest}.] [OE. mene, AS. m[?]ne wicked; akin to m[be]n, a., wicked, n., wickedness, OS. m[?]n wickedness, OHG. mein, G. meineid perjury, Icel. mein harm, hurt, and perh. to AS. gem[?]ne common, general, D. gemeen, G. gemein, Goth. gam[a0]ins, and L. communis. The AS. gem[?]ne prob. influenced the meaning.] 1. Destitute of distinction or eminence; common; low; vulgar; humble. [bd]Of mean parentage.[b8] --Sir P. Sidney. The mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself. --Is. ii. 9. 2. Wanting dignity of mind; low-minded; base; destitute of honor; spiritless; as, a mean motive. Can you imagine I so mean could prove, To save my life by changing of my love ? --Dryden. 3. Of little value or account; worthy of little or no regard; contemptible; despicable. The Roman legions and great C[91]sar found Our fathers no mean foes. --J. Philips. 4. Of poor quality; as, mean fare. 5. Penurious; stingy; close-fisted; illiberal; as, mean hospitality. Note: Mean is sometimes used in the formation of compounds, the sense of which is obvious without explanation; as, meanborn, mean-looking, etc. Syn: Base; ignoble; abject; beggarly; wretched; degraded; degenerate; vulgar; vile; servile; menial; spiritless; groveling; slavish; dishonorable; disgraceful; shameful; despicable; contemptible; paltry; sordid. See {Base}.