Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MEAN, v.t. [pret. and pp. meant; pronounced ment; Sax. mænan, menan, to mean, to intend, also to relate, to recite or tell, also to moan, to lament; G. meinen; D. meenen; Sw. mena; Dan. meener, mener; Russ. mnyu, to think or believe; Ir. smuainim. It coincides in origin with L. mens, Eng. mind. The primary sense is to set or to thrust forward, to reach, stretch or extend. So in L. intendo, to stretch onward or toward, and propono, to propose, to set or put forward.]

1. To have in the mind, view or contemplation; to intend. What mean you by this service? Exod. xii.
2. To intend; to purpose; to design, with reference to a future act. Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it for good. Gen. 1.
3. To signify; to indicate. What mean these seven ewe lambs. Gen. xxi. What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? 1 Sam. iv. Go ye, and learn what that meaneth. Matth. ix.