mediocre

mediocre
mediocre (adj.) 1580s, from M.Fr. médiocre (16c.), from L. mediocris "of middling height or state, moderate, ordinary," figuratively "mediocre, mean, inferior," originally "halfway up a mountain," from medius "middle" (see MEDIAL (Cf. medial) (adj.)) + ocris "jagged mountain" (Cf. Gk. okris "peak, point," Welsh ochr "corner, border," L. acer "sharp;" see ACRID (Cf. acrid)). As a noun, "medicore thing or person," by 1834.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • médiocre — [ medjɔkr ] adj. et n. • 1495; lat. mediocris, de medius « au milieu » 1 ♦ Vx Moyen. « sept personnes d une taille médiocre » (Buffon). 2 ♦ (XVIe) Qui est au dessous de la moyenne, qui est insuffisant en quantité ou en qualité. ⇒ petit .… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • mediocre — MEDIOCRE. adj. de tout genre. Qui est entre le grand & le petit, entre le bon & le mauvais. Une somme mediocre. un cheval de mediocre taille. faire mediocre chere. du vin mediocre. cela n est que mediocre. un esprit mediocre. une beauté mediocre …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • mediocre — me‧di‧o‧cre [ˌmiːdiˈəʊkə◂ ǁ ˈoʊkər◂] adjective not very good: • The business is now riding high, shaking off years of mediocre earnings. • Shares have had a mediocre year. * * * mediocre UK US /ˌmiːdiˈəʊkər/ adjective ► ordinary and not very good …   Financial and business terms

  • mediocre — adjetivo,sustantivo masculino y femenino 1. (antepuesto / pospuesto) Que es mediano, regular o no tiene un particular talento para nada: Llevo una vida mediocre. ¿Qué tiene de malo ser un mediocre? No podemos confiar en un mediocre político.… …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • mediocre — me di*o cre (m[=e] d[i^]*[=o] k[ e]r), a. [F. m[ e]diocre, L. mediocris, fr. medius middle. See {Mid}.] Of a middle quality; of but a moderate or low degree of excellence; indifferent; ordinary. A very mediocre poet. Pope. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mediocre — Me di*o cre, n. 1. A mediocre person; a mediocrity. [R.] [1913 Webster] 2. A young monk who was excused from performing a portion of a monk s duties. Shipley. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mediocre — /me djɔkre/ [dal lat. mediocris, der. di medius medio ]. ■ agg. 1. (lett., non com.) [che sta nel mezzo, che si trova in una posizione di mezzo: punto m. di un oggetto ] ▶◀ e ◀▶ [➨ medio agg. (1. a)]. 2. a. [che è inferiore alla me …   Enciclopedia Italiana

  • medíocre — adj. 2 g. 1. Mediano; sofrível; meão; insignificante. • s. m. 2. O que é medíocre …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • mediocre — [mē΄dē ō′kər, mē′dē ō΄kər] adj. [Fr médiocre < L mediocris < medius, middle (see MID1) + ocris, a peak < IE base * ak̑ , sharp > L acer] 1. neither very good nor very bad; ordinary; average 2. not good enough; inferior …   English World dictionary

  • mediocre — I adjective acceptable, adequate, all right, average, banal, colorless, common, commonplace, decent, everyday, fair, fairish, good enough, inconsequential, indifferent, inferior, inglorious, insignificant, lesser, lifeless, low class, low grade,… …   Law dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”