meanness.html - {v. phr.}, {informal} To decide strongly to do what you plan to do; really mean it; be serious. * /The boss said he would fire us if we didn't work harder and he means business./ * /When she went to college to study, she meant business./ * /He just liked the company of the other girls he dated, but this time he seems to mean business./

meanness.html - {v. phr.} To have good intentions. * /Fred generally means well, but he has a tendency to be tactless./

meanness.html - See: BY ALL MEANS, BY MEANS OF, BY NO MEANS, WAYS AND MEANS.

meanness.html - {n. phr.} An action leading to some end or purpose. * /Money for him was just a means to an end; actually he wanted power./

meanness.html - v.tr.
(past and past part. meant)
1 a (often foll. by to + infin.) have as one's purpose or intention; have in mind (they really mean mischief; I didn't mean to break it). b (foll. by by) have as a motive in explanation (what do you mean by that?).
2 (often in passive) design or destine for a purpose (mean it to be used; mean it for a stopgap; is meant to be a gift).
3 intend to convey or indicate or refer to (a particular thing or notion) (I mean we cannot go; I mean Richmond in Surrey).
4 entail, involve (it means catching the early train).
5 (often foll. by that + clause) portend, signify (this means trouble; your refusal means that we must look elsewhere).
6 (of a word) have as its explanation in the same language or its equivalent in another language.
7 (foll. by to) be of some specified importance to (a person), esp. as a source of benefit or object of affection etc. (that means a lot to me).

mean business be in earnest. mean it not be joking or exaggerating. mean to say really admit (usu. in interrog.: do you mean to say you have lost it?). mean well (often foll. by to, towards, by) have good intentions. [OE mónan f. WG, rel. to MIND]

meanness.html - adj.
1 niggardly; not generous or liberal.
2 (of an action) ignoble, small-minded.
3 (of a person's capacity, understanding, etc.) inferior, poor.
4 (of housing) not imposing in appearance; shabby.
5 a malicious, ill-tempered. b US vicious or aggressive in behaviour.
6 colloq. skilful, formidable (is a mean fighter).
7 colloq. ashamed (feel mean).

no mean a very good (that is no mean achievement). mean White = poor White.

meanly adv. meanness n. [OE móne, gemóne f. Gmc]