- Meal-mouthed
- Meal-mouthed \Meal"-mouthed`\, a. See {Mealy-mouthed}. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
Meal-mouthed
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meal-mouthed — ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ adjective : mealymouthed 1 … Useful english dictionary
meal´i|ness — meal|y1 «MEE lee», adjective, meal|i|er, meal|i|est. 1. like meal; dry and powdery: »mealy potatoes. 2. of or containing meal: »the mealy treasures of the harvest bin … Useful english dictionary
meal|y — meal|y1 «MEE lee», adjective, meal|i|er, meal|i|est. 1. like meal; dry and powdery: »mealy potatoes. 2. of or containing meal: »the mealy treasures of the harvest bin … Useful english dictionary
meal|y-mouthed — «MEE lee MOWTHD, MOWTHT», adjective. unwilling to tell the straight truth in plain words; using soft words insincerely: »a mealy mouthed politician. SYNONYM(S): hollow, insincere, equivocating … Useful english dictionary
mealy-mouthed — meal′y mouthed or meal′y•mouthed adj. avoiding the use of plain or honest language; deceitful • Etymology: 1565–75 … From formal English to slang
mealy-mouthed — meal|y mouthed [ ,mili mauðd, ,mili mauθt ] adjective not willing to express yourself in a simple and direct way, usually in order to hide the truth: Spokesmen have been mealy mouthed in defense of the president … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
Mealy-mouthed — Meal y mouthed , a. Using soft words; not straightforward; plausible; affectedly or timidly delicate of speech; speaking deviously; unwilling to tell the truth in plain language. Opposite of {frank} or {blunt}. Mealy mouthed philanthropies.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
mealy-mouthed — afraid to say what one really thinks, 1570s; first element perhaps from O.E. milisc sweet, from P.Gmc. *meduz honey (see MEAD (Cf. mead) (n.1)), which suits the sense, but if the Old English word did not survive long enough to be the source of… … Etymology dictionary
mealy-mouthed — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ reluctant to speak frankly. ORIGIN perhaps from German Mehl im Maule behalten carry meal in the mouth (i.e. be unstraightforward in speech), or related to Latin mel honey … English terms dictionary
mealy-mouthed — adjective reluctant to speak frankly. Origin C16: perh. from Ger. Mehl im Maule behalten, lit. carry meal in the mouth , i.e. be unstraightforward in speech, or related to L. mel honey … English new terms dictionary
