adjective
mean
Low in quality or distinction.
The family lives in a mean little house near the tracks.
Etymology
The older adjective meant common or shared. Its evaluative sense shifted from ordinary status to something low in quality or distinction.
More examples
- He rises from mean beginnings to become a respected judge.
- Their mean surroundings offer little comfort during the long winter.
- Finishing a marathon is no mean feat.
Forms
mean · meaner · meanest