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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mene, Mein, n.¹ Also: men; meine, meyn(e; meen(e; mane, main, mayn(e; mean(e, meaine, meayne; myn(e. [ME. and e.m.E. mene (c 1330), meene, meane (15th c.), meyne (Skelton, 1526), partly absol. use of Mene a.² and partly OF. meien etc., subst. use of meien Mene a.²]Perh. the spellings meaine, meayne, prob. the early instance of the form mean [Irland quot. in sense 3 plur. (5)], and perh. some other examples of more regular spellings, were, in branch II, intended to represent a disyllabic form as also in Meyan, Myan, Moyen.In branch II commonly plur. in sing. or coll. use as also Moyen n., etc.

I. That which is intervening or intermediate.

1. The mean; the condition, disposition or course of action that is between two extremes. c1420 Ratis R. 285.
It is the men that standys ewyne Betuex twa wicis Ib. 326, 327, etc. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1427 (Wr.).
Retaine then the meane then, The surest way it seemes a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 1339.
That hes nather tap taill nor main [Carmichael meane]

b. An intermediate part in harmonised singing or playing. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 88 (Wr.).
Where descant did abound With treble, tenor, counter, meene [: between]

2. a. An intervening time, an interval. b. In (also be) the mene, in the mean (time), in the interim; see Mene a.² 3.a. a 1350 Facs. Nat. MSS. II. xix.
Per sex … annos immediate sequentes [gl. for vtin on mene foluand]b. (1) 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 41.
I … in the meyne sall tak quhat pyne I may indure to keip the contreth at rest 1593 Warrender P. II. 417.
The Queyne in the meyne was delyver of a ladie callit Elizabeth 1670 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 9 July.
They in the meane resolve to goe to Robert Dungaldsones hous and tell the money(2) 1606 Acts IV. 298/2.
The realme … will be the mean vant that … provision of ordinar musick

II. An intermediary agency or condition; a means.

3. A means, method; an agency, instrument; an expedient, shift, arrangement. = Moyen n. 1.Also, a means of obtaining or attaining (of) something.sing. (1) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 12/18.
Eternall joy of paradice and the way and the mene to cum to it a1568 Bann. MS. 158 b/82.(b) 1499 Thanes of Cawdor 77.
Gif na uther meyn can nocht be to mak him sickir utherwais c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxvii. 70.
Thé for to pleis thay socht all way and mein [: Aberdein] 1565 Crim. Trials I. i. 463.
I sall fynd the meyne to eschew the haill wrek thairof and bring ȝow to ȝour purpoise a1599 Rollock Wks. I. 316.
Never was thair onie man that … had the trew knawledge and mein to attein to this glorie that was disappointit 1638-54 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 603.
The onlie meine (in our judgment) to preserve religione(c) 1508 Grant Chart. 47.
He sall leif his sone ane mane to furnis the bying of his sonnis mareage(d) 1563-72 Ferg. Tracts 10.
This is not the meane to win the fauor of the people 1567 G. Ball. 212. 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 570. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 4.
Scho left na meane unassayit to set thame togidder be the eiris Ib. 55.
He had faillit to find not only ane meane but alswa ane honest collour to refuse to fecht 1584–5 Laing MSS. I. 39.
Becaus they saw na uther meane how to recover thair levings 1616 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 143.
Thair is no uther mean nor moyen to pay the said yeirlie stipend 1651 R. Douglas Serm. at Scoone, 1 Jan. 10.
It will bee a good meane to make him acquaynt with Gods mynd(2) 1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 130.
And the scheref … to furneis ane mein thairfore 1600 Misc. Bann. C. I. 147.
And mark how that same word … God usit as ane mein for the preservatioune of the prince 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 504.
An honest and saving mean of Christ for mortification and faith's growth 1653 Inverness Rec. II. 207.
The office … of ane dean of gild as a meaine verie usefull … for promoweing the common good of this brught(3) a1599 Rollock Wks. I. 416.
The mein of thair salvatioun 1603 Philotus lxxxvii.
Gif of hir moyen wee get ane meine [: greine, seine] It war ane happie grace c1650 Spalding II. ii.
As a speciall meine of conserving of peace 1660 Honours Scotl. 126.
The prime mean of their safetie was the declaring them to be caried off the kingdome 1697 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. IV. 354. 1726 Stirling B. Rec. II. 195.
The mean of improbation comparatione literarum, or otherwise, was perished(4) a1500 Lanc. 41.
And in myself I can nocht fynde the meyne In to quhat wys I sal my wo compleine 1567 Sat. P. iv. 54.
Musand the meine mycht meis hir euer mair 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 78.
Be quhat mean and way makes he them halie? 1618 Acts IV. 586/1.
No other meane whereby they might trye the warrand [etc.](5) 1598 Acts IV. 174/2.
He … proponit the meane and overtour vnderwrittin 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 360.
It sall be frie to anyman to propone ane better meane and to prove the same 1633 Orkney Bishop Ct. 87 b.
Be … practeising of this extraordinar mean following, to wit be taking of ane stone [etc.] 1676 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 295.
It will be ane good meine that his place vaik for some yeirs for the foirsaid effectplur. (1) a1508 Kennedy Pass. Ckrist 391.
All menis thai soucht to gar him de 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 154/13.
That Abraham and diuers vtheris inventit wayes and meynis to worschip God 1570 Sat. P. xviii. 65.
Wo worth vnlefull meinis manifest That ȝe haif socht to bruik authoritie! a1585 Maitl. Q. lxv. 15.
For to expande my dreame all meinis I socht 1600-1610 Melvill 745.
The propositiounes, meines, and middes to attein thairunto, are … painfully dressit and platit 1622-6 Bisset I. 112/26. 1624 Perth Kirk S. MS. 31 May.
He hes na wther moyane nor meanes to gett the samyn bot at thair handis allanerlie 1636 Dumbarton B. Rec. 50.
That the meins be usit to get office of sheriffship(2) 1614 Highland P. III. 169.
To use all the menis for inteaking the hous of Dunavege 1647 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 26.
To use meanes for learning thair servants to reid 1688 Tryal Philip Standsfield 3.(3) 1570 Sat. P. xvii. 154.
Seikand the menis of our awin mischeif 1670 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 264.
According to the said doctor his marks and prescryvit meines of tryall — 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS. 24 July.
Theis wemen of quhome scho socht meaneis of helth to hir bairne 1666 S. Ronaldshay 53.
Against all … haunting of superstitious places … or other the lyk unlaufull meanes of thair healthes(4) 1494 Loutfut MS. 8 a.
To find the menys how that his honour suld be kepit 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 159/16.
The sacramentis … ar the instrumentis, cheif menis and way quhairby the fructis of Christis … passioun is daylie renewit 1581 Burne Disput. 6.
The meynis and cause quhairby thay may attene … to the end 1607 Highland P. III. 98.
No goode meanis salbe omittit w[hi]lkis may intrap him(5) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2850 (Bann.).
With mynd inconstant … Full of dissait and menys cautelus c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 45/19.
For thir meanys & wayis He ordanit eternaly or He made the warld 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 22.
Considder how mony … honest meanys ye haif socht in tyme bipast Ib. 26. a1578 Pitsc. I. 164/1. 1583 Cal. Sc. P. VI. 350.
Leif of na gude meanys unused 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 19.
That we may … not be constrainit to use uther meins c1590 Fowler II. 155/2.
To … leafe off better meanes 1597 James VI Dæmonol. 44.
The deuill will haue his out-warde meanes to be shewes at it were of his doing a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 465 (W). a1599 Rollock Wks. I. 420.
Meinis 1608 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 44.
The knawledge … in those meynes quhilk may enriche any borrough … quhiche is tradeing and merchandice 1638 Johnston Diary (1911) I. 301. 1657 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 138.
Meines 1562-3 Winȝet II. 7/4.
quasi-sing. As it is a … necessar meanis at al tymes of debate to tramp doun on al sydis bayth errour and haeresie 1576 Orkney Oppress. 52.
This law … is ane meins and way to spulȝie honist men of thair substance 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 356.
The difference will be a meannis to kepe the small coyne within the kingdomeb. sing. (1) a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 135.
Tyne nocht my sawle with fellone mene [: lene](2) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 14/21.
The reparacioun … to be maid be the mene of a lady Ib. MS. 228 b.
He suld recouere the spirituall grace … be the meyn of bodely thingis a1500 Lanc. 26. c1500 Fyve Bestes 416.
And be that mayn is justice sauld & bocht 1513 Doug. iii. vi. 19.
How I may or be quhat meyn eschaip a1568 Bann. MS. 258 b/7.
The cursitnes and disset of wemen Cowld not be schawin be the mene of pen 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 530.
Thinking to haue had acces at all tymes be that meane to Boithuile Ib. 532.
Without she war quyt of the King be ane meane or vther a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxiv. 16.
Conqueis na guidis wrangouslie Be na false mene Id. Maitl. Q. xvi. 70. 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 40.
This unbelevabill turnis … may not be takin aweye bot be sum extraordinare men quhilk ye man schaw to his majesty 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV. 121 b.
To be sauit be na mene bot be … Jesus Christ a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 202.plur. (1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 431 (Bann.).
[The fox] in his mynd he kest The juperteis, the wayis and the wile Be quhat menis he mycht this cok begile a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cxi. 29.
Sa sould na prince nor magistrat Be craiftie meynis and dessait Hurte thair inferiouris 1551 Hamilton Cat. 152.
As the devil ouircome mankind be menis of a tre c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 241.
This unitie … Is be no meanis bot be his wourd imbrasing 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 545.
Meanys ? 1572 Sat. P. xxvii. 37.
Be meitar meaines thow mon thatt make mend a1578 Pitsc. I. 156/12.
Scho was constranit to pas in ane fischaris bot and be that menis saiffit hir lyf 1599 Rollock Wks. I. 332.
The warldly man is claiming to his honour be meinis unlesum, be flatterie, be falset Ib. 420.
Be ordinar meinis and middis 1627 Orkney Rentals iii. 34.
By the most indifferent and laughfull meanis thay can 1630 Soc. Ant. LVI. 50.
Sathan … instructit him be quhat meanis he sould cure the said Thomas of his said seiknes 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 386.
Withstand the same be all the meanes and moyen ye can 1654 Inverness Rec. II. 209.
To defend thameselves … be all legall meines(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 567 (Bann.).
This fox … Dissauit was throw mynis [v.rr. menis] marvellous(3) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1261 (Bann.).
Tirrane men, that settis all thair cure With fals menys to mak a wrang conqueistc. sing. c1475 Wall. vii. 45.
Syne chargyt thaim … Be no kyn meyne Wallace suld nocht chaip by Ib. viii. 901. Ib. xi. 207. 1513 Doug. ix. iii. 30.
Deliuer me of thys feir be sum meyn [: constrene] Ib. iv. vi. 116. a1538 Abell 94 b.
At he wald nocht be na meyn dimynis the fredum of Scotland a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cixxv. 42.
Ȝe that with curteouris hes bein Acquentit lang be ony mein 1624 Crim. Trials III. 572.
To bareiff him of his lyffe be on meine or vtherplur. (1) 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 92.
That your grace seik be all menis pece of Ingland 1596 Dalr. I. 271/25. Ib. 129/3.
The Peichtes be na meanes wil suffir [etc.] 1638-54 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 640.
By all meins(2) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 699 (Asl.).
The antecrist our faith for to confound Be mony menys and merwalus manere 1685 Marchmont P. III. 56.
quasi-sing. By this meansed. 1599 Rollock Wks. I. 430.
Fy on us seing sic ane glorie laid up in hevin for us that ȝit will not mak ane mein to get it 1703 Stirling B. Rec. II. 99.
[To] use all meanes and moyean possible for discussing of the said apeall

e. A means (of attaining) to (unto) a place. f. ? A means of grace. 1581 Sat. P. xliv. 304.
That … sacrament, … A neidfull meine vnto that kingdome sueit, As lykuyse is that holy vnction 1697 Sermon on Witchcraft in Sc. Hist. Rev. VII. 399.
External baptism … is indeed a mean & barr laid in the gait of Satan

g. An occasion or cause. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 164.
This depairting of my Lord Ergyle … wes the mene that the saidis lordis never creditit ane word that wes … spokin a1686 Turner Mem. 245.
Saying it wold be a meane to draw Cromwell into Scotland

h. ? Erron. 15.. Clar. iv. 580.
[He] told him all the maner and the meine [: bline] What that thay war and how thay war arayit

4. In the bad sense: A nefarious method of achieving some end; a trick, trickery, a plot, a conspiracy. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 262.
Him be sum meyn dissaitfully to sla 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 12.
Achitophel and Sinone, That by our subtell menis feill hes slane Id. Æn. iv. Prol. 239. 1533 Boece viii. vii. 264.
Fering thai mycht be supprisit be sum mene of Hengist 1535 Stewart 44307.
With subtill mene and conspiratioun, Intrusit himself and tuke on him the croun a1568 Bann. MS. 158 a/55.
The tapstar & the fals knave haldis on ane mene a1578 Pitsc. I. 115/16. Ib. 165 h. of ch.
The king dewyssit ane subtill and craftie meine aganis the said erie Ib. II. 20/21. 1629 Justiciary Cases I. 99.
For cleiring of his innocencie of that ungodlie meayne and moyane [sc. sorcery as a means to riches]

5. Applied to persons: An agent, intermediary or instrument; also, a mediator or intercessor.Also plur. in sing. use.sing. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvi. 76.
God … hes maid thé instrument and mein With maryage to cowpill … Thir tua realmes 1583 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 619.
Beseiking the Assemblie therfor, as the only meane in this world quhervnto he may have esperance, to present his regraits … to his Majestie a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 53.
To be a meyne to restore hir to hir place agayne as his dewtie was 1626 Garden Worthies 9.
Thow was made the mene … Both to establish and to intertaine A treatieplur. ? c 1570 (1663) Misc. Wodrow Soc. 74.
The Marques of D'Albuef, the subtill meanes of the Duke of Guise and Cardinall Loraigne

6. Active agency, by way of mediation, intercession, exertion of influence etc. = Moyen n. 3.a. sing. c1508 Ch. & M. Prints vi b. 48.
Be thy meke mene that place in Hevin to wyn 1490 Irland Mir. I. 141/15.
The Emperoure Octouiane, be the mene of Sibilla, saw … a cirkile about the sone 1515 Acta Conc. MS. XXVII. 71.
Royal letters senistirly purchest be meyn of ane part of the lordis being with the Quenis graice 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 264.
Howbeit thai dred to be deferrit be mene of partii a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvi. 62.
Defend our commounis … And be thy mein our commoun weill incres ? 1570 Sat. P. xvii. 32.
How the same began to be suppressit Be Murrayis meaneplur. (1) 1456 Liber Aberbr. II. 88.
And the boundis of it ar accordit be trety and the menys off thir personis c1475 Wall. ix. 1397.
Bot some men said thar was a prewa band Till Sotheroun maid be menys off that knycht 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II. 355. 1577 Reg. Morton I. 89.
That be ȝour gude meanys we may haif sum certane intelligence 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10655.
Be quhais fals meanis 1592 Reg. Privy C. IV. 821.
That his slauchter wes laid for be meanys of my Lord Chancellair 1622-6 Bisset II. 171/13.
Ane image fixt in ane wall … be the menis of ane nobill woman(2) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 244/9.
Throw the menys of his eme James of Levingstoun 1528 Douglas Corr. 16.
Throu sollistatioun and menis of our eme the Duk of Albanyb. a1578 Pitsc. I. 355/24.
Had [nocht] bene the more solistatioun and means was maid for him 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 222.
Making all the meanes, and using all the friends you can for his procuring

7. Influence, credit. = Moyen n. 4. c1475 Wall. vii. 1116.
Bot he be meyne gat his castell agayne c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiii. 24.
Sum speidis for he in court hes menis [: complenis, fenis] 1522–3 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 161.
Albeit my party is of gretar mene and solicitacioun nor I am a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxiii. 15.
Be mein of court sum gettis land

8. Resources, means of support, funds. = Moyen n. 5.sing. 1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 133.
Some lauchfull and honest meyn how to leif 1587 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 498.
Havand … na ordinare meayne to pay the sam [sc. expenses]plur. a1568 Bann. MS. 261 b/14.
Bot neuirtheles the laird mon fyne For all his menis ane tun of wyne 1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 132.
Rascall people … leaving upon unlauchfull meanys 1611 Lothian Dioc. Synod 110.
[A student] craving sum cheretabill meins … for … furtherance of his cours 1624 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 506.
The meynes and estait that I sall die possessed of 1627 Old Ross-shire I. 35. 1629 Justiciary Cases I. 99. 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 318.
In bestowing so liberallie of the meanes for propagation of learning 1637 Banff Ann. I. 76.
They … steillis … wther menis meins 1646 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 69.
Both officiaris and sojoris took thrie dayis meines with them 1650 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 192.
The publict provisioune of the airmie … and alse ane monethis meines 1652 Honours Scotl. 121.
Quhen they will not haissart ane triffell of menes, they will neuir haissart lyff and fortoune 1660 Rothesay B. Rec. 57.
That Niniane Allane haid wrongit him in his meanes and guids 1662 Highland P. III. 13.
She wold not want meines eneugh 1666 Dunkeld Presb. II. 63.
Till restore him till his own meens 1624 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 225.
quasi-sing. A competent meanes for … an honest man