mean1
¦ verb (past and past participle meant)
1. intend to convey or refer to.
(of a word) have as its signification in the same language or its equivalent in another language.
(mean something to) be of a specified degree of importance to.
2. intend to occur or be the case.
(be meant to do something) be supposed to do something.
(often be meant for) design or destine for a particular purpose.
(mean something by) have as a motive or excuse in explanation.
3. have as a consequence or result.
Phrases
mean business be in earnest.
mean well have good intentions, but not always carry them out.
Origin
OE m?nan, of W. Gmc origin.
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mean2
¦ 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 mean -- very good of its kind: it was no mean feat.
Derivatives
meanly adverb
meanness noun
Origin
ME (orig. in the sense 'common to two or more persons'), shortening of OE gemne, of Gmc origin.
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mean3
¦ noun
1. (also
arithmetic mean) the average of a set of quantities. See also
geometric mean.
2. a condition, quality, or course of action equally removed from two opposite extremes.
¦ adjective
1. calculated as a mean.
2. equally far from two extremes.
Origin
ME: from OFr.
meien, from L.
medianus (see
median).