meager etymology

Etymology:

The word "meager" originates from the Middle English word "megre," which is derived from the Old French word "maigre," meaning "thin" or "lean."

Meaning:

• Definition:
  • Thin, lean, or lacking in quantity or nourishment.
  • Insufficient or inadequate.
  • Small or insignificant.

Origin:

The ultimate origin of the word "maigre" is uncertain, but there are two main theories:

• From Latin: Some scholars suggest that "maigre" may have derived from the Latin word "macer," meaning "thin" or "lean."
• From Germanic: Others propose that it may have originated from the proto-Germanic word "*maigraz," meaning "thin" or "lean."

Evolution of Meaning:

Over time, the word "meagre" has undergone a semantic shift. Initially, it referred primarily to physical thinness or leanness. However, it has since come to be used more figuratively to describe anything that is inadequate, deficient, or lacking in substance.

Synonyms:

• Thin
• Lean
• Scanty
• Sparse
• Poor
• Inadequate
• Insignificant
• Meagre

meager relate terms

• emaciate

  Etymology Latin emaciatus emaciated wasted Participles of emaciare to make thin

• emaciated

  Etymology From Latin ēmaciātus past participle of ēmaciāre meaning to make lean

• maigre

  Etymology Latin macer thin lean gaunt Meaning Thin lean or lacking substance

• meager

  Etymology The word meager originates from the Middle English word megre which is de

• malinger

  Etymology The word malingerer is derived from the French word malingre which means

• ample

  Etymology The word ample derives from the Latin adjective amplus which means wide

• gracile

  Etymology The word gracile comes from the Latin word gracilis which means slender

• scanty

  Etymology The word scanty is derived from the Old French word escante which in turn

• bald

  The word bald comes from the Old English word balde which meant bald or without ha

• brownie

  Etymology of Brownie The word brownie has two possible etymologies Scottish Gaeli

• slim

  Etymology The word slim is derived from the following Proto Germanic roots slim

• maple

  Etymology The word maple comes from the Old English word mapuldor which in turn com

• Albuquerque

  Etymology Albuquerque is derived from the Spanish name Alburquerque which is probably