mean

{{11}}mean (adj.¹) "low-quality," c.1200, "shared by all," from imene, from O.E. gemæne "common, public, general, universal, shared by all," from P.Gmc. *ga-mainiz "possessed jointly" (Cf. O.Fris. mene, O.S. gimeni, M.L.G. gemeine, M.Du. gemene, Du. gemeen, Ger. gemein, Goth. gamains "common"), from PIE *ko-moin-i- "held in common," a compound adjective formed from collective prefix *ko- "together" (P.Gmc. *ga-) + *moi-n-, suffixed form of PIE root *mei- "to change, exchange" (see MUTABLE (Cf. mutable)). Cf. second element in COMMON (Cf. common), a word with a sense evolution parallel to that of this word.

Of things, "inferior, second-rate," from late 14c. (a secondary sense in Old English was "false, wicked"). Notion of "so-so, mediocre" led to confusion with MEAN (Cf. mean) (n.). Meaning "inferior in rank or status" (of persons) emerged early 14c.; that of "ordinary" from late 14c.; that of "stingy, nasty" first recorded 1660s; weaker sense of "disobliging, pettily offensive" is from 1839, originally American English slang. Inverted sense of "remarkably good" (i.e. plays a mean saxophone) first recorded c.1900, perhaps from phrase no mean _______ "not inferior" (1590s, also, "not average," reflecting further confusion with mean (n.)).

{{12}}mean (adj.²) "occupying a middle or intermediate place," mid-14c., from Anglo-Fr. meines (pl.), O.Fr. meien, variant of moiien "mid-, medium, common, middle-class" (12c., Mod.Fr. moyen), from L.L. medianus "of the middle," from L. medius "in the middle" (see MEDIAL (Cf. medial) (adj.)). Meaning "intermediate in time" is from mid-15c. Mathematical sense is from late 14c.

{{12}}mean (n.) "that which is halfway between extremes," early 14c., from O.Fr. meien "middle, means, intermediary," noun use of adjective from L. medianus "of or that is in the middle" (see MEAN (Cf. mean) (adj.²)). Oldest sense is musical; mathematical sense is from c.1500. Some senes reflect confusion with mean (adj.¹). This is the mean in by no means (late 15c.).

{{13}}mean (v.¹) "intend, have in mind," O.E. mænan "to mean, intend, signify; tell, say; complain, lament," from W.Gmc. *mainijan (Cf. O.Fris. mena "to signify," O.S. menian "to intend, signify, make known," M.Du. menen, Du. meenen, Ger. meinen "think, suppose, be of the opinion"), from PIE *meino- "opinion, intent" (Cf. O.C.S. meniti "to think, have an opinion," O.Ir. mian "wish, desire," Welsh mwyn "enjoyment"), perhaps from root *men- "think" (see MIND (Cf. mind) (n.)). Conversational question you know what I mean? attested by 1834.

{{14}}mean (v.²) "calculate an arithemtical mean," 1882, from MEAN (Cf. mean) (n.).