mealtub (meltub)

A large tub or barrel for holding meal or flour. trans. 1. To have in mind, view, or contemplation; intend; hence, to purpose or design. We fayne and forge and father soch thinges of Tullie, as he neuer ment in deed. Ascham, The Scholemaster, p. 123. No man means evil but the devil. Shak ., M. W. of W., v. 2. 15. Alas, poor creature! he meant no man harm, That I am sure of. Ford , 'Tis Pity, iii. 9. Sir Peter, I know, means to call there about this time. Sheridan , School for Scandal, iv. 2. I wish I knew what my father meant us to do. E. S. Sheppard , The Children's Cities. 2. To signify, or be intended to signify; indicate; import; denote. What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? 1 Sam. iv. 6. 3. Characteristic of or commonly pertaining to persons or things of low degree; common; inferior; poor; shabby: as, a mean appearance; mean dre . He chanc'd to meet his deposed Brother, wandering in mean condition. Milton, Hist. Eng., i. I know not what entertainment they [other seamen] had; but mine was like to be but mean , and therefore I presently left it. Dampier Voyages, II. 1. 55. 4. Without dignity of mind; destitute of honor; low-minded; spiritle ; base. The mean man's actions, be they good or evil, they reach not far. Hooker, Eccles. Polity, vii. 18. Till I well could weep for a time so sordid and mean. Tennyson, Maud, v. 2. 5. Niggardly; penurious; miserly; stingy.6. Of little value or account; low in worth or estimation; worthy of little or no regard; contemptible; despicable. meane. The meter and verse of Plautus and Terence be verie Ascham, The Scholemaster, p. 144. But Paul said, I am.. a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. Acts xxi. 39. The French esteem him [the chub] so mean as to call him Un Villain. I. Walton , Complete Angler, p. 66. 7. Disobliging; pettily offensive or unaccommodating; "small." [Colloq.] - To feel mean, to feel that one has been guilty of some petty act; feel that one has not been generous, honorable, etc. [Colloq.] =Syn. 2. Vulgar , etc. (see common ), humble, poor, servile. -4. Abject , Low , etc. (see abject ), paltry. See list under low2 .-5. Niggardly , Stingy , etc. (see penurious ); sordid, selfish, close. mean