Mean \Mean\, a. [Compar. Meaner; superl. Meanest.]

[OE. mene, AS. m?ne wicked; akin to m[=a]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['a]ins, and L. communis. The AS. gem?ne prob. influenced the meaning.]

1. Destitute of distinction or eminence; common; low; vulgar; humble. ``Of mean parentage.'' --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[ae]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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)