Nota: A tradução desta entrada está atualmente em revisão de qualidade, portanto parte do conteúdo é exibida temporariamente apenas em inglês.
Este verbete ainda não foi traduzido para o seu idioma, portanto o original é exibido abaixo.
meanly
This adverb carries a strong duality between moral character and socioeconomic status. When describing behavior, it denotes a lack of generosity or kindness, often implying a spiteful or cruel intent. In this sense, it is a direct descriptor of a person's temperament or treatment of others.
When describing living conditions or origins, the word shifts toward a neutral or descriptive tone regarding poverty and modesty. It suggests a lack of luxury or prestige, focusing on the humble or shabby nature of an environment or a starting position in life. This usage is more common in literary or archaic contexts than in modern conversational English.
Meanings
Examples
He spoke meanly of his rivals to undermine their reputation.
Why must you treat your subordinates so meanly?
She felt he had acted meanly by refusing to help her in her time of need.
The hermit lived meanly in a small cave with nothing but a straw mat.
The cottage was meanly furnished with a single broken chair and a rough table.
They spent their final days meanly in a damp tenement house.
I was born meanly, the son of a simple peasant.
He began his career meanly as a clerk in a dusty archive.