Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MEAN-NESS, n.

1. Want of dignity or rank; low state; as, meanness of birth or condition. Poverty is not always meanness; it may be connected with it, but men of dignified minds and manners are often poor.
2. Want of excellence of any kind; poorness; rudeness. This figure is of a later date, by the meanness of the workmanship. Addison.
3. Lowness of mind; want of dignity and elevation; want of honor. Meanness in men incurs contempt. All dishonesty is meanness.
4. Sordidness; niggardliness; opposed to liberality or charitableness. Meanness is very different from frugality.
5. Want of richness; poorness; as, the meanness of dress or equipage.