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語源

From the late 中期英語 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.

発音

• (英国発音) IPA: /ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə/, /ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə/
• (米国発音) IPA: /ˌmidiˈoʊkəɹ/

形容詞

mediocre (comparative more mediocre, superlative most mediocre)

1. Not excellent or outstanding, usually disappointingly so.

   Synonyms: common, commonplace, ordinary; see also Thesaurus:mediocre

   Antonyms: great, distinguished, exceptional, outstanding, remarkable, peculiar; see also Thesaurus:excellent, Thesaurus:bad

   I'm pretty good at tennis but only mediocre at racquetball.

   • 1959 June, O. S. Nock, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 409:

     The standard ranges from runs that are almost sensational in the speed and brilliance of the work to the ultra-mediocre.

   • 1968, William Arthur Ward, Thoughts of a Christian Optimist‎, Droke House:

     The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

   • 2023 August 24, Sarah Naftalis & Lauren Wells, “The Roast” (8:36 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows‎, season 5, episode 8, spoken by Baron Afanas (Doug Jones):

     “Look at this festive assembly. All of us, gathered here together, chuckling at jokes and silliness.” [laughter] “And jackanapery.” [rim shots] “I guess there's only one thing left to say. What is this shit?” [rim shot] [laughter] “[laughs] Very good.” “You call yourselves vampires? Bah. This entire evening has been nothing but a pageant of insipid nonsense.” “[laughing] Yes.” “Worshipping at the altar of your own mediocre frivolity. A jester's hollow dance. And who is laughing?” “Yeah! [whoops] [grunts]” “Vampires are supposed to have blood orgies and slaughter circles. Gah! You have all gone soft. You even invited humans to this asinine affair.”

派生語

関連する語

名詞

mediocre (plural mediocres)

1. A person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim; a common and undistinguished person.

   Antonym: great

   • 1825, “Present State of Literature”, in The Gentleman's Magazine‎, 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.

参照

Further reading

• “mediocre”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “mediocre”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.

アナグラム

• mediocer

形容詞

mediocre

1. nominative/accusative neuter singular of mediocris