Meek - Definitions from Dictionary.com

7 results for: Meek

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

meek

–adjective, -er, -est.

1.	humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others.

2.	overly submissive or compliant; spiritless; tame.

3.	Obsolete. gentle; kind.

[Origin: 1150–1200; ME meke, meoc < ON mjūkr soft, mild, meek

]

—Related forms

meekly, adverb

meekness, noun

—Synonyms 1. forbearing; yielding; unassuming; pacific, calm, soft. See gentle.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Meek

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

meek Audio Help (mēk) Pronunciation Key
adj. meek·er, meek·est

Showing patience and humility; gentle.
Easily imposed on; submissive.

[Middle English meke, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse mjūkr, soft.]

meek'ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
meek

c.1200, "gentle, courteous, kind," from O.N. mjukr "soft, pliant, gentle," from P.Gmc. *meukaz (cf. Goth. muka-modei "humility," Du. muik "soft"), of uncertain origin. Use to translate L. mansuetus from Vulgate (see mansuetude). Sense of "submissive" is from 1340.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

meek
adjective
1.	humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness; "meek and self-effacing"
2.	very docile; "tame obedience"; "meek as a mouse"- Langston Hughes
3.	evidencing little spirit or courage; overly submissive or compliant; "compliant and anxious to suit his opinions of those of others"; "a fine fiery blast against meek conformity"- Orville Prescott; "she looked meek but had the heart of a lion"; "was submissive and subservient"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
meek [miːk] adjective

humble and not likely to complain, argue, react strongly etc
Example: a meek little man

Arabic:	وَديع، خَجول، مُتواضِع
Chinese (Simplified):	温顺的
Chinese (Traditional):	溫順的
Czech:	mírný, trpělivý
Danish:	ydmyg
Dutch:	gedwee
Estonian:	vagur
Finnish:	nöyrä
French:	doux
German:	sanftmütig
Greek:	πράος
Hungarian:	szelíd
Icelandic:	hógvær, skapmildur
Indonesian:	penurut
Italian:	mite

Japanese:	おとなしい
Korean:	온순한
Latvian:	pazemīgs, lēnprātīgs
Lithuanian:	nuolankus, romus
Norwegian:	ydmyk; forsagt, forknytt
Polish:	łagodny
Portuguese (Brazil):	dócil
Portuguese (Portugal):	humilde
Romanian:	blând
Russian:	кроткий
Slovak:	mierny, trpezlivý
Slovenian:	pohleven
Spanish:	manso, paciente
Swedish:	ödmjuk, undergiven, beskedlig
Turkish:	yumuşak başlı, uysal

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Meek

Gen"tle\, a. [Compar. Gentler; superl. Gentlest.] [OE. gentil, F. gentil noble, pretty, graceful, fr. L. gentilis of the same clan or race, fr. gens, gentis, tribe, clan, race, orig. that which belongs together by birth, fr. the root of genere, gignere, to beget; hence gentle, properly, of birth or family, that is, of good or noble birth. See Gender, and cf. Genteel, Gentil, Gentile, Gentoo, Jaunty.]

1. Well-born; of a good family or respectable birth, though not noble.

British society is divided into nobility, gentry, and yeomanry, and families are either noble, gentle, or simple. --Johnson's Cyc.

The studies wherein our noble and gentle youth ought to bestow their time. --Milton.

2. Quiet and refined in manners; not rough, harsh, or stern; mild; meek; bland; amiable; tender; as, a gentle nature, temper, or disposition; a gentle manner; a gentle address; a gentle voice.

3. A compellative of respect, consideration, or conciliation; as, gentle reader. "Gentle sirs." "Gentle Jew." "Gentle servant." --Shak.

4. Not wild, turbulent, or refractory; quiet and docile; tame; peaceable; as, a gentle horse.

5. Soft; not violent or rough; not strong, loud, or disturbing; easy; soothing; pacific; as, a gentle touch; a gentle gallop . "Gentle music." --Sir J. Davies.

O sleep! it is a gentle thing. --Coleridge.

The gentle craft, the art or trade of shoemaking.

Syn: Mild; meek; placid; dovelike; quiet; peaceful; pacific; bland; soft; tame; tractable; docile.

Usage: Gentle, Tame, Mild, Meek. Gentle describes the natural disposition; tame, that which is subdued by training; mild implies a temper which is, by nature, not easily provoked; meek, a spirit which has been schooled to mildness by discipline or suffering. The lamb is gentle; the domestic fowl is tame; John, the Apostle, was mild; Moses was meek.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Meek

Meek\, a. [Compar. Meeker; superl. Meekest.] [OE. mek, meoc; akin to Icel. mj?kr mild, soft, Sw. mjuk, Dan. myg, D. muik, Goth. mukam?dei gentleness.]

1. Mild of temper; not easily provoked or orritated; patient under injuries; not vain, or haughty, or resentful; forbearing; submissive.

Not the man Moses was very meek. --Num. xii. 3.

2. Evincing mildness of temper, or patience; characterized by mildness or patience; as, a meek answer; a meek face. "Her meek prayer." --Chaucer.

Syn: Gentle; mild; soft; yielding; pacific; unassuming; humble. See Gentle.

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