mean

Pronunciation: /miːn/

The English word “mean” has 20 meanings listed here.

verb

To intend, to plan (to do); to have as one's intention.
To have as intentions of a given kind.
To intend (something) for a given purpose or fate; to predestine.
To intend an ensuing comment or statement as an explanation.
To convey (a given sense); to signify, or indicate (an object or idea).
Of a word, symbol etc: to have reference to, to signify.
Of a person (or animal etc): to intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude.
To have conviction in (something said or expressed); to be sincere in (what one says).
To cause or produce (a given result); to bring about (a given result).
To be of some level of importance.
To lament.

adjective

Common; general.
Of a common or low origin, grade, or quality; common; humble.
Low in quality or degree; inferior; poor; shabby.
Without dignity of mind; destitute of honour; low-minded; spiritless; base.
Of little value or worth; worthy of little or no regard; contemptible; despicable.
Ungenerous; stingy; tight-fisted.
Disobliging; pettily offensive or unaccommodating.
Intending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise; bearing ill will towards another.
Powerful; fierce; strong.

Etymology

From Middle English menen (“to intend; remember; lament; comfort”), from Old English mǣnan (“to mean, complain”), Proto-West Germanic *mainijan, from Proto-Germanic *mainijaną (“to mean, think; complain”), from Proto-Indo-European *meyn- (“to think”), or perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *meyno-, extended form of Proto-Indo-European *mey-. Germanic cognates include West Frisian miene (“to deem,…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.