mean

I

[[t]min[/t]]

v. meant, mean•ing

1) to have in mind as one's purpose or intention; intend

2) to intend for a particular destiny:

They were meant for each other[/ex]

3) to intend to express or indicate:

What do you mean by “perfect”?[/ex]

4) to have as its sense or signification; signify

5) to bring, cause, or produce as a result:

Prosperity means peace[/ex]

6) to have the value of:

Money means everything to them[/ex]

7) to have specified intentions:

We meant well[/ex]

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Etymology: bef. 900; ME menen, OE mǣnan, c. OFrismēna, OSmēnian, OHG meinen II

mean

[[t]min[/t]] adj. -er, -est

1) uncharitable; malicious:

a mean remark[/ex]

2) small-minded; ignoble:

mean motives[/ex]

3) stingy; miserly

4) inferior in quality or character

5) low in status:

mean servitors[/ex]

6) bad-tempered:

a mean horse[/ex]

7) excellent; topnotch:

plays a mean game of tennis[/ex]

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Etymology: bef. 900; var. of imene, OE gemǣne common, inferior, c. OFrismēne, OHGgimeini, Go gamains; cf. common mean′ness, n. III

mean

[[t]min[/t]] n.

1) Usu., means. (used with a sing. or pl. v.) an agency, instrument, or method used to attain an end

2) means

a) available resources, esp. money

b) considerable financial resources:

a person of means[/ex]

3) something midway between two extremes

4)

a) a quantity having a value intermediate between the values of other quantities; an average, esp. the arithmetic mean

b) either the second or third term in a proportion of four terms

5) pho the middle term in a syllogism

6) occupying a middle position or intermediate place

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- by all means by any means by means of by no means

Etymology: 1300–50; ME mene < AF, OF meen, var. of meien < L mediānus; see median