2. Done for malevolent reasons; -- of deeds and actions.
Syn: base, contemptible, currish, mean, meanspirited, scurvy. [WordNet 1.5]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
mean-spirited — (adj.) also meanspirited, 1690s, from MEAN (Cf. mean) (adj.1) + SPIRITED (Cf. spirited). Ancient Greek had the same image in mikropsykhos … Etymology dictionary
mean-spirited — [mēn′spir′it id] adj. characterized by or displaying a propensity to be mean; selfish, malicious, etc. mean spiritedness n. * * * mean spir·it·ed or mean·spir·it·ed (mēnʹspĭrʹĭ tĭd) adj. Having or characterized by a malicious or petty spirit. … … Universalium
mean-spirited — [mēn′spir′it id] adj. characterized by or displaying a propensity to be mean; selfish, malicious, etc. mean spiritedness n … English World dictionary
mean-spirited — index caitiff Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
mean-spirited — adj not generous or sympathetic … Dictionary of contemporary English
mean-spirited — adjective Having a base, nasty, petty, or malevolent disposition. My old acquaintances would sneer at me as a mean spirited cur, whose best exploit was to get in jail … Wiktionary
mean-spirited — adjective not generous or sympathetic: a mean spirited, jealous man … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
mean-spirited — mean spirˈited adjective • • • Main Entry: ↑mean … Useful english dictionary
mean-spirited — adjective Date: 1694 exhibiting or characterized by meanness of spirit • mean spiritedness noun … New Collegiate Dictionary
mean-spirited — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) adj. abject, groveling; contemptible, petty. See narrowness. Ant., generous. II (Roget s IV) modif. Syn. base, timid, servile; see cowardly , mean 1 , weak 3 … English dictionary for students
