Definition of "meanness" []

• The state of being inferior in quality, character, or value; commonness. (noun)
• The quality or state of being selfish or stingy. (noun)
• A spiteful or malicious act. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "I thought you had been above such meanness, or, I promise you, I should never have borrowed your half-guinea, "added Holloway; and he left his unfortunate creditor to reflect upon the new ideas of _meanness_ and _spirit_, which had been thus artfully thrown out."
• "At this he affected to be perfectly unconcerned, and merely protested against what he called the meanness of trying to fix the charge on him."
• "As I use to say, meanness is becoming commonplace for our people."