释义 |
▪ I. † meaner1 Obs. In 4 mener, 5 menowre, menar. [a. OF. meeneur, moieneor, moyenneur.] A mediator; an interpreter.
1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 409 Mark þe gospellour, Paule his disciple and his mener [L. interpres Petri]. Ibid. V. 397 Austyn..com alonde wiþ fourty felawes and som meners [interpretibus]. c1440Promp. Parv. 333/1 Menowre, or medyatowre. c1450Holland Howlat 747 Thow moder of all mercy, and the menar. ▪ II. meaner2 ? Obs.|ˈmiːnə(r)| [f. mean v.1 + -er1.] One who means, intends, or purposes. Chiefly with qualifying adj. prefixed.
1580Lupton Sivqila 138 We haue the faithfullest meaners, and truest dealers, that are in all the world. 1590Spenser F.Q. iii. v. 25 So mischief fel upon the meaners crowne. 1604Hieron Wks. I. 490 If the meaner be not assured of the goodnesse of it..his meaning is naught. a1616Beaum. & Fl. Scornf. Lady i. i, A Simile seruant? This roome was built for honest meaners, that deliuer themselues hastily and plainely, and are gone. 1634A. Warwick Spare Min. (1637) 18 The good meaner hath two tongues. 1712Steele Spect. No. 504 ⁋2 Your double Meaners are dispersed up and down thro' all Parts of Town or City where [etc.]. ▪ III. † ˈmeaner3 Obs. rare. [? Subst. use of comparative of mean a.1; or perh. f. mean a.1 + er: cf. commoner.] One of the humbler class.
1602Warner Alb. Eng. xii. lxx. (1612) 293 But of some meaners, that their liues haue ventured no lesse, Perform'd as much [etc.]. 1642Rogers Naaman 383 Lawyer, Justice, Gentleman or meaner do within the compasse of their places [etc.]. |