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mean
adjective
-
mean
,
meaner
,
meanest
unkind
and
willing
to
hurt
or
upset
others
•
The
bigger
kids
were
mean
to
the
new
student
.
The
bigger
kids
were
mean
to
the
new
student
.
•
Don
’
t
say
such
mean
things
about
her
.
Don
’
t
say
such
mean
things
about
her
.
Sense
of
“
unkind
”
evolved
in
19th-century
American
English
,
extending
earlier
sense
of
“
low
in
rank
.”
adjective
-
mean
,
meaner
,
meanest
unkind
or
cruel
toward
others
•
It
was
mean
to
laugh
at
his
mistake
.
It
was
mean
to
laugh
at
his
mistake
.
•
Don
’
t
be
mean
to
your
little
sister
.
Don
’
t
be
mean
to
your
little
sister
.
Originally
meaning
‘
common
’
or
‘
lowly
’
in
Middle
English
,
the
sense
shifted
to
‘
unkind
’
in
the
19th
century
.
adjective
-
mean
,
meaner
,
meanest
not
generous
;
unwilling
to
spend
money
•
My
uncle
is
so
mean
he
never
leaves
a
tip
.
My
uncle
is
so
mean
he
never
leaves
a
tip
.
•
Don
’
t
be
mean
—
buy
proper
birthday
presents
for
the
kids
!
Don
’
t
be
mean
—
buy
proper
birthday
presents
for
the
kids
!
From
earlier
sense
“
low
in
rank
or
quality
,”
later
applied
to
unwillingness
to
give
.
adjective
-
mean
,
meaner
,
meanest
very
good
or
skillful
(
informal
)
•
Carla
plays
a
mean
guitar
solo
.
Carla
plays
a
mean
guitar
solo
.
•
That
bakery
makes
a
mean
cheesecake
.
That
bakery
makes
a
mean
cheesecake
.
20th-century
American
slang
,
generalizing
earlier
sense
“
severe
,
powerful
.”
