mediocre: difference between revisions

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Browse history interactively
← Go to previous editGo to next edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m convert {{it-IPA}} to {{it-pr}}
m replace <* {{audio|en|En-us-mediocre.ogg|Audio (US)}}> with <* {{audio|en|En-us-mediocre.ogg|a=US}}> (clean up audio captions)
(37 intermediate revisions by 14 users not shown)
Line 7: Line 7:


===Etymology===
===Etymology===
From the late {{der|en|enm|medioker}}, from the {{der|en|fr|médiocre}}, from the {{der|en|frm|médiocre}}, from the Classical {{der|en|la|mediocris|t=in a middle state”, “of middle size”, “middling”, “moderate”, “ordinary}}, from {{m|la|medius|t=middle}} + {{m|la|ocris|t=rugged mountain}}; compare {{m|la|mediocrely}} and {{m|la|mediocrity}}.
From the late {{der|en|enm|medioker}}, from the {{der|en|fr|médiocre}}, from the {{der|en|frm|médiocre}}, from the Classical {{der|en|la|mediocris|t=in a middle state”, “of middle size”, “middling”, “moderate”, “ordinary|pos=from
{{af|la|medius|t1=middle|ocris|t2=rugged mountain|nocat=1}}}}; compare {{m|la|mediocrely}} and {{m|la|mediocrity}}.
{{root|en|ine-pro|*h₂eḱ-}}
{{root|en|ine-pro|*h₂eḱ-}}


===Pronunciation===
===Pronunciation===
* {{a|UK}} {{IPA|en|/ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə/|/ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə/}}
* {{IPA|en|/ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə/|/ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə/|a=UK}}
* {{a|US}} {{IPA|en|/ˌmidiˈoʊkəɹ/}}
* {{IPA|en|/ˌmidiˈoʊkəɹ/|a=US}}
* {{audio|en|En-us-mediocre.ogg|Audio (US)}}
* {{audio|en|En-us-mediocre.ogg|a=US}}


===Adjective===
===Adjective===
{{en-adj}}
{{en-adj}}


# Having no [[peculiar]] or [[outstanding]] [[features]]; not [[extraordinary]], [[special]], [[exceptional]], or [[great]]; of [[medium]] quality, almost always with a negative connotation<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brians.wsu.edu/2016/05/24/mediocre/|title=mediocre - Common Errors in English Usage and More - Washington State University|publisher=|accessdate=20 April 2020}}</ref>.
# Not [[excellent]] or [[outstanding]], usually disappointingly so. <ref>{{cite-web|titleurl=https://brians.wsu.edu/2016/05/24/mediocre/|title=mediocre - Common Errors in English Usage and More - Washington State University|accessdate=20 April 2020}}</ref>
⚫
#: {{ux|en|I'm pretty good at tennis but only '''mediocre''' at racquetball.}}
⚫
#* {{quote-book|en|year=1968|author={{w|William Arthur Ward}}|title=Thoughts of a Christian Optimist|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5aBuAAAAMAAJ|publisher=Droke House|passage=The '''mediocre''' teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.}}
#: {{syn|en|common|commonplace|ordinary}}
#: {{syn|en|common|commonplace|ordinary}}
#: {{ant|en|great|distinguished|exceptional|outstanding|remarkable|peculiar|excellent}}
#: {{ant|en|great|distinguished|exceptional|outstanding|remarkable|peculiar|excellent}}
⚫
#: {{ux|en|I'm pretty good at tennis but only '''mediocre''' at racquetball.}}
⚫
#* {{quote-book|en|year=1968|author=w:William Arthur Ward|title=Thoughts of a Christian Optimist|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5aBuAAAAMAAJ|publisher=Droke House|passage=The '''mediocre''' teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.}}


====Related terms====
====Related terms====
Line 45: Line 46:
*: Mandarin: {{t+|cmn|平庸|tr=píngyōng}}, {{t+|cmn|平凡|tr=píngfán}}, {{t+|cmn|平平|tr=píngpíng}}, {{t+|cmn|庸碌|tr=yōnglù}}
*: Mandarin: {{t+|cmn|平庸|tr=píngyōng}}, {{t+|cmn|平凡|tr=píngfán}}, {{t+|cmn|平平|tr=píngpíng}}, {{t+|cmn|庸碌|tr=yōnglù}}
* Czech: {{t+|cs|průměrný}}
* Czech: {{t+|cs|průměrný}}
* Danish: {{t|da|middelmådig}}
* Danish: {{t+|da|middelmådig}}
* Dutch: {{t+|nl|middelmatig}}
* Dutch: {{t+|nl|middelmatig}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|keskiverto}}, {{t+|fi|keskimääräinen}}, {{qualifier|in a negative sense}} {{t+|fi|keskinkertainen}}, {{t|fi|hääppöinen}}
* Esperanto: {{t|eo|mezbona}}, {{t|eo|mezklalita}}, {{t|eo|averaĝa}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|keskiverto}}, {{t+|fi|keskimääräinen}}, {{qualifier|in a negative sense}} {{t+|fi|keskinkertainen}}, {{t+|fi|hääppöinen}}
* French: {{t+|fr|médiocre}}
* French: {{t+|fr|médiocre}}
* Galician: {{t+|gl|mediocre|m|f}}, {{t|gl|nin arre nin xo}}
* Galician: {{t+|gl|mediocre|m|f}}, {{t|gl|nin arre nin xo}}
* German: {{t+|de|mittelmäßig}}
* German: {{t+|de|mittelmäßig}}
* Greek: {{t+|el|μέτριος|m}}, {{qualifier|colloquial}} {{t+|el|παρακατιανός|m}}
* Greek: {{t+|el|μέτριος|m}}, {{qualifier|colloquial}} {{t+|el|παρακατιανός|m}}
* Hindi: {{t+|hi|मध्यम}}, {{t+|hi|दरमियानी}}, {{t|hi|बीच का}}, {{t|hi|बीच की रास}}, {{t+|hi|मुतवस्सित}}, {{t|hi|बैन-बैन}}, {{t|hi|दरमियाना}}, {{t|hi|[[औसत]] [[दर्जे]] [[का]]}}, {{t+|hi|मोतदिल}}, {{t+|hi|माध्यमिक}}, {{t+|hi|औसत}}
* Hungarian: {{t+|hu|középszerű}}, {{t+|hu|közepes}}
* Hungarian: {{t+|hu|középszerű}}, {{t+|hu|közepes}}
* Icelandic: {{t-check|is|miðlungs|alt=miðlungs-}} <!-- was "[[miðlungs]]-" - assumed inflected form or vocalised spelling; please verify if linking is acceptable. see [[User:Kephir/gadgets/xte#Translation_fixing]] -->, {{t-check|is|meðallags|alt=meðallags-}} <!-- was "[[meðallags]]-" - assumed inflected form or vocalised spelling; please verify if linking is acceptable. see [[User:Kephir/gadgets/xte#Translation_fixing]] -->
* Icelandic: {{t-check|is|miðlungs|alt=miðlungs-}} <!-- was "[[miðlungs]]-" - assumed inflected form or vocalised spelling; please verify if linking is acceptable. see [[User:Kephir/gadgets/xte#Translation_fixing]] -->, {{t-check|is|meðallags|alt=meðallags-}} <!-- was "[[meðallags]]-" - assumed inflected form or vocalised spelling; please verify if linking is acceptable. see [[User:Kephir/gadgets/xte#Translation_fixing]] -->
Line 57: Line 60:
* Italian: {{t+|it|mediocre}}
* Italian: {{t+|it|mediocre}}
* Japanese: {{t+|ja|凡庸|alt=凡庸な|tr=bon'yō na}}, {{t+|ja|平凡|alt=平凡な|tr=heibon na}}
* Japanese: {{t+|ja|凡庸|alt=凡庸な|tr=bon'yō na}}, {{t+|ja|平凡|alt=平凡な|tr=heibon na}}
{{trans-mid}}
* Korean: {{t+|ko|평범하다}}
* Korean: {{t+|ko|평범하다}}
* Latin: {{t+|la|mediocris}}
* Latin: {{t+|la|mediocris}}
Line 63: Line 65:
* Norwegian:
* Norwegian:
*: Bokmål: {{t|nb|middelmådig}}
*: Bokmål: {{t|nb|middelmådig}}
*: Nynorsk: {{t|nn|middelmåtig}}
* Persian: {{t|fa|کم‌مایه|tr=kam-mâye}}
* Persian: {{t|fa|کم‌مایه|tr=kam-mâye}}
* Polish: {{t+|pl|średni}}, {{t+|pl|mierny}}, {{t+|pl|przeciętny}}, {{t|pl|niespecjalny}}
* Polish: {{t+|pl|średni}}, {{t+|pl|mierny}}, {{t+|pl|przeciętny}}, {{t|pl|niespecjalny}}
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|medíocre}}
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|medíocre}}, {{t+|pt|meia-boca}} {{qualifier|informal}}
* Romanian: {{t+|ro|mediocru}}
* Romanian: {{t+|ro|mediocru}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|посре́дственный}}, {{t+|ru|зауря́дный}}, {{t+|ru|сре́дний}}, {{t+|ru|нева́жный}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|посре́дственный}}, {{t+|ru|зауря́дный}}, {{t+|ru|сре́дний}}, {{t+|ru|нева́жный}}
Line 74: Line 77:
* Turkish: {{t+|tr|vasat}}, {{t+|tr|sıradan}}
* Turkish: {{t+|tr|vasat}}, {{t+|tr|sıradan}}
* Ukrainian: {{t|uk|посере́дній}}, {{t+|uk|аби́який}}, {{t|uk|сере́дній}}
* Ukrainian: {{t|uk|посере́дній}}, {{t+|uk|аби́який}}, {{t|uk|сере́дній}}
* Westrobothnian: {{t|gmq-bot|melong}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{checktrans-top}}
* Esperanto: {{t-check|eo|mezkvalita}}
{{trans-mid}}
{{trans-bottom}}
{{trans-bottom}}


Line 86: Line 83:


# A [[person]] of [[minor]] [[significance]], [[accomplishment]] or [[acclaim]]; a [[common]] and [[undistinguished]] person.
# A [[person]] of [[minor]] [[significance]], [[accomplishment]] or [[acclaim]]; a [[common]] and [[undistinguished]] person.
⚫
#* {{quote-journal|en|year=1825|title=Present State of Literature|journal={{w|The Gentleman's Magazine}}|volume=XCV|part=second|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IDuKkn8S64MC|page=197|passage=Of the hundreds of inferior poets, who are continually offering their sonnets and addresses to the Moon, (or to the public instead of that luminary,) Wade, Barton, Wiffen, and Bailey, are the most conspicuous. Wade is a new aspirant, but gives strong prognostications of genius. Barton and Bailey are above the '''mediocres,''' and Wiffen tolerable.}}
⚫
#* '''2014''', Todd Whitaker, ''Dealing with Difficult Teachers, Third Edition'' (page 84)
⚫
#*: After this lecture, how do the '''mediocres''' feel? They probably feel indifferent or mad. Perhaps they were not even paying attention. The question is, are they more likely to be in the hallway tomorrow? Probably not.
#: {{ant|en|great}}
#: {{ant|en|great}}
⚫
#* {{quote-journal|en|year=1825|title=Present State of Literature|journal=w:The Gentleman's Magazine|volume_plain=volume XCV, second part|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IDuKkn8S64MC|page=197|passage=Of the hundreds of inferior poets, who are continually offering their sonnets and addresses to the Moon, (or to the public instead of that luminary,) Wade, Barton, Wiffen, and Bailey, are the most conspicuous. Wade is a new aspirant, but gives strong prognostications of genius. Barton and Bailey are above the '''mediocres,''' and Wiffen tolerable.}}
⚫
#* {{quote-text|en|year=2014|author=Todd Whitaker|title=Dealing with Difficult Teachers, Third Edition|page=84
⚫
|passage=After this lecture, how do the '''mediocres''' feel? They probably feel indifferent or mad. Perhaps they were not even paying attention. The question is, are they more likely to be in the hallway tomorrow? Probably not.}}
# {{lb|en|historical}} A member of a [[socioeconomic]] [[class]] between the upper ranks of society and the [[agricultural]] [[worker]]s.
# {{lb|en|historical}} A member of a [[socioeconomic]] [[class]] between the upper ranks of society and the [[agricultural]] [[worker]]s.


Line 95: Line 92:
{{trans-top|person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim}}
{{trans-top|person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim}}
* Chinese:
* Chinese:
*: Mandarin: {{t+|zh|庸人|tr=yōngrén}}
*: Mandarin: {{t+|cmn|庸人|tr=yōngrén}}
* French: {{t+|fr|médiocre}}
* French: {{t+|fr|médiocre}}
{{trans-mid}}
* German: {{t|de|Mittelmäßige}}
* German: {{t|de|Mittelmäßige}}
* Greek: {{t+|el|μετριότητα|f}}
* Greek: {{t+|el|μετριότητα|f}}
Line 112: Line 108:
===Anagrams===
===Anagrams===
* {{anagrams|en|a=cdeeimor|mediocer}}
* {{anagrams|en|a=cdeeimor|mediocer}}

----


==Catalan==
==Catalan==
Line 120: Line 114:
{{ca-adj|mf}}
{{ca-adj|mf}}


# [[#English|mediocre]]
# {{l|en|mediocre}}


====Derived terms====
====Derived terms====
Line 129: Line 123:


====Further reading====
====Further reading====
* {{R:IEC2}}
* {{R:ca:IEC2}}

----


==Italian==
==Italian==
Line 141: Line 133:
{{it-adj}}
{{it-adj}}


# [[#English|mediocre]], [[ordinary]], [[middling]]
# {{l|en|mediocre}}, [[ordinary]], [[middling]]
#: {{syn|it|comune|ordinario}}
#: {{syn|it|comune|ordinario}}
# [[second-rate]], [[poor]], [[shoddy]]
# [[second-rate]], [[poor]], [[shoddy]]
Line 147: Line 139:


===Noun===
===Noun===
{{it-noun|mf}}
{{it-noun|mfbysense}}


# mediocre person; [[mediocrity]]
# mediocre person; [[mediocrity]]
Line 162: Line 154:


{{C|it|People}}
{{C|it|People}}

----


==Latin==
==Latin==
Line 171: Line 161:


===Adjective===
===Adjective===
{{head|la|adjective form}}
{{la-adj-form|mediocre}}


# {{inflection of|la|mediocris||nom//acc|n|s}}
# {{inflection of|la|mediocris||nom//acc|n|s}}

----


==Portuguese==
==Portuguese==


===Adjective===
===Adjective===
{{pt-adj|mediocr|e}}
{{pt-adj}}


# {{obsolete spelling of|pt|medíocre}}
# {{obsolete spelling of|pt|medíocre}}

----


==Spanish==
==Spanish==

===Etymology===
{{bor+|es|la|mediocris}}.


===Pronunciation===
===Pronunciation===
{{es-IPA}}
{{es-pr}}


===Adjective===
===Adjective===
{{es-adj}}
{{es-adj}}


# [[#English|mediocre]]
# {{l|en|mediocre}}
#: {{syn|es|cutre|normalito|poca cosa|regular}}


====Related terms====
====Related terms====
* {{l|es|mediocridad}}
{{col-auto|es|mediocridad|mediocremente}}
* {{l|es|mediocremente}}


====Further reading====
====Further reading====
* {{R:DRAE}}
* {{R:es:DRAE}}

Revision as of 10:41, 2 June 2024

See also: médiocre and medíocre

Englisch

Alternative forms

Etymology

From the late Middle English medioker, from the French médiocre, from the Middle French médiocre, from the Classical Latin mediocris (“in a middle state”, “of middle size”, “middling”, “moderate”, “ordinary”, from medius (“middle”) +‎ ocris (“rugged mountain”)); compare mediocrely and mediocrity.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə/, /ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˌmidiˈoʊkəɹ/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Adjective

mediocre (comparative more mediocre, superlative most mediocre)

  1. Not excellent oder outstanding, usually disappointingly so. [1]
    Synonyms: common, commonplace, ordinary
    Antonyms: great, distinguished, exceptional, outstanding, remarkable, peculiar, excellent
    I'm pretty good at tennis but only mediocre at racquetball.
    • 1968, William Arthur Ward, Thoughts of a Christian Optimist‎[1], Droke House:
      The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

Translations

Nomen

mediocre (plural mediocres)

  1. A person of minor significance, accomplishment oder acclaim; a common and undistinguished person.
    Antonym: great
    • 1825, “Present State of Literature”, in The Gentleman's Magazine‎[2], volume XCV, second part, page 197:
      Of the hundreds of inferior poets, who are continually offering their sonnets and addresses to the Moon, (or to the public instead of that luminary,) Wade, Barton, Wiffen, and Bailey, are the most conspicuous. Wade is a new aspirant, but gives strong prognostications of genius. Barton and Bailey are above the mediocres, and Wiffen tolerable.
    • 2014, Todd Whitaker, Dealing with Difficult Teachers, Third Edition, page 84:
      After this lecture, how do the mediocres feel? They probably feel indifferent or mad. Perhaps they were not even paying attention. The question is, are they more likely to be in the hallway tomorrow? Probably not.
  2. (historical) A member of a socioeconomic class between the upper ranks of society and the agricultural workers.

Translations

References

  1. ^ “mediocre - Common Errors in English Usage and More - Washington State University”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), 2020 April 20 (last accessed)

Further reading

Anagrams

Catalan

Adjective

mediocre m or f (masculine and feminine plural mediocres)

  1. mediocre

Derived terms

Further reading

Italian

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /meˈdjɔ.kre/
  • Rhymes: -ɔkre
  • Hyphenation: me‧diò‧cre

Adjective

mediocre (plural mediocri)

  1. mediocre, ordinary, middling
    Synonyms: comune, ordinario
  2. second-rate, poor, shoddy
    Synonyms: scadente, scarso

Nomen

mediocre m or f by sense (plural mediocri)

  1. mediocre person; mediocrity

Anagrams

Latin

Pronunciation

Adjective

mediocre

  1. nominative/accusative neuter singular of mediocris

Portuguese

Adjective

mediocre m or f (plural mediocres)

  1. Obsolete spelling of medíocre.

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin mediocris.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /meˈdjokɾe/ [meˈð̞jo.kɾe]
  • Rhymes: -okɾe
  • Syllabification: me‧dio‧cre

Adjective

mediocre m or f (masculine and feminine plural mediocres)

  1. mediocre
    Synonyms: cutre, normalito, poca cosa, regular

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=mediocre&oldid=79612911"