meanly

English

Etymology

From Middle English meneli, meneliche, equivalent to mean +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmiːnli/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adverb

meanly (comparative meanlier or more meanly, superlative meanliest or most meanly)

1. Humbly, of or from low social status; basely. [from 16th c.]
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 3, member 2:

     Iphicrates and Marius were meanly born.

2. Poorly or inadequately. [from 16th c.]
3. In a mean manner; ill-willed, nastily. [from 17th c.]

   He meanly refused to ever make a charitable donation.

Anagrams

• Manley, Melany, laymen, namely, yelman