Mean (mēn), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Meant (mĕnt); p. pr. & vb. n.Meaning.] [OE. menen, AS. mǣnan to recite, tell, intend, wish; akin to OS. mēnian to have in mind, mean, D. meenen, G. meinen, OHG. meinan, Icel. meina, Sw. mena, Dan. mene, and to E. mind. √104. See Mind, and cf. Moan.] 1. To have in the mind, as a purpose, intention, etc.; to intend; to purpose; to design; as, what do you mean to do?
What mean ye by this service? Ex. xii. 26.
Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good. Gen. 1. 20.
I am not a Spaniard
To say that it is yours and not to mean it. Longfellow.
2. To signify; to indicate; to import; to denote.
What mean these seven ewe lambs? Gen. xxi. 29.
Go ye, and learn what that meaneth. Matt. ix. 13.