mediocrity
(miːdɪˈɒkrɪtɪ)
Also 5–6 -crite, 6 -critye, 6–7 -critie.
[a. F. médiocrité, ad. L. mediocritās, f. mediocris: see mediocre and -ity.]
1. The quality or condition of being intermediate between two extremes; mean state or condition, mediety. Also, something (a quality, position, etc.) equally removed from two opposite extremes; a mean. (Chiefly as a quasi-technical term, with reference to the Aristotelian theory of ‘the mean’. Now rare.)
| 1531 Elyot Gov. iii. viii, Fortitude..is a Mediocritie or meane betwene two extremities. 1532 Sir B. Tuke in Thynne Chaucer's Wks. A ij, Such sensyble and open style, lackyng neither maieste ne mediocrite couenable in disposycion. 1579 E. K. in Spenser's Sheph. Cal. July Embl., Albeit all bountye dwelleth in mediocritie, yet perfect felicitye dwelleth in supremacie. 1609 Overbury Observ. Wks. (ed. Rimbault) 251 At fifteene they quit bookes, and begin to live in the world, when indeed a mediocritie betwixt their forme of education and ours would doe better then either. 1645 Milton Tetrach. Wks. 1851 IV. 233 As the offence was in one extreme, so the rebuke, to bring more efficaciously to a rectitude and mediocrity, stands not in the middle way of duty, but in the other extreme. 1650 Hobbes De Corp. Pol. 41 The common Opinion, that Virtue consisteth in Mediocrity and Vice in Extreams. 1759 Adam Smith Mor. Sent. i. iii. 49 The propriety of every passion excited by objects peculiarly related to ourselves,..must lye, it is evident, in a certain mediocrity. 1768 [W. Donaldson] Life Sir B. Sapskull II. xxii. 168 His temper was a mediocrity of chearfulness and solemnity. a 1871 Grote Eth. Fragm. v. 163 When he places virtue in a certain mediocrity between excess and defect [etc.]. |
† b. golden mediocrity = golden mean (see golden 5 c). Obs.
| c 1510 More Picus Wks. 15/1 The golden mediocrite, the meane estate is to be desired. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xxv. §4. 1661 Cowley Cromwell Wks. (1688) 76 Was ever Riches gotten by your Golden Mediocrities? |
† c. Geom. = mean. Obs.
| 1726 Leoni Alberti's Archit. II. 89/2 These the Philosophers call Mediocrities or Means,..of all which the purpose is, that the two extreams being given, the middle mean or number may correspond with them in a certain determined manner. |
† 2. A middle course in action; measured conduct or behaviour; moderation, temperance. Phr. to keep or observe a mediocrity. Obs.
| 1531 Elyot Gov. i. xxvii, Some men wolde saye, that in mediocritie, whiche I haue so moche praised in shootynge, why shulde nat boulynge, claisshe, pynnes, and koytyng be as moche commended? 1564 Abp. Parker Corr. (Parker Soc.) 215 He noted much and delighted in our mediocrity, charging the Genevians and the Scottish of going too far in extremities. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Modus, Statuere modum inimicitiarum, to kepe a mediocritie or measure in hatinge. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. xvi. §7 That law of reason, which teacheth mediocritie in meates and drinkes. 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 14/1 The Chirurgiane must, in sowinge, vse mediocritye, and not take to great a qvantitye of the fleshe. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. ii. ii. iv. (1651) 286 Body and mind must be exercised, not one, but both, and that in a mediocrity. 1637 R. Humfrey tr. St. Ambrose ii. 41 A mediocrity is to be kept in liberality. 1670 G. H. Hist. Cardinals i. i. 30 If the Popes had been contented to carry themselves with mediocrity, they had never run that hazard of losing all. 1774 Pennant Tour Scotl. in 1772, 135 Reformation in matters of religion, seldom observes mediocrity. |
† 3. The condition of possessing attributes in a medium or moderate degree; moderate degree or rate, average quality or amount; tempered condition. Obs.
| 1598 R. Barckley Felic. Man (1631) 505 The temperate zone where..men..live in a pleasant mediocrity, voide of both extremities. 1612 Bacon Ess., Youth & Age (Arb.) 260 Men of age..seldome driue businesse home to the full period; but content themselues with a mediocrity of successe. 1659 Macallo Can. Physick 56 Sleep likewise surpassing the bounds of mediocrity, is in like manner evil. 1665 Needham Med. Medicinæ 265 There are in the Bloud, much Water and Spirit, a Mediocrity of Salt and Sulphur, and some little of Earth. 1683 Tryon Way to Health 292 Let them beware of strong Drinks, because they heat the blood & body beyond Mediocrity. 1733 Cheyne Eng. Malady ii. v. §11 (1734) 170 To ascertain the Mediocrity of such a Diet as neither makes the Salts and Oils too many [etc.]. 1744 Berkeley Siris §89 We enjoy a great mediocrity of climate. 1753 Hanway Trav. (1762) II. ii. i. 65 Whether we..enjoy a profusion, or mediocrity of the gifts of providence. |
b. Medium size. rare.
| 1653 R. Sanders Physiogn. a iij, To the predicament of Quantity, appertain magnitude, parvity, and mediocrity of parts. 1841 Catlin N. Amer. Ind. (1844) II. lvii. 220 In stature he is about at mediocrity. |
† 4. Moderate fortune or condition in life. Obs.
| c 1450 tr. De Imitatione i. xxii. 28 It is [not] mannys felicite to haue temporall godes in abundaunce, but mediocrite sufficiþ him. a 1591 R. Greenham Wks. (1599) 50 Which thing ought to humble vs in the desire of outward things, and to make vs thankfull for a mediocritie. 1681 J. Flavel Meth. Grace xxviii. 478 A mediocrity is the Christian's best external security. 1784 Cowper Task i. 50 These for the rich; the rest, whom fate had placed In modest mediocrity,..sat on well-tanned hides. 1816 Singer Hist. Cards 125 John Gænsfleisch..was constrained by the mediocrity of his means to quit his native city of Mentz. |
5. The quality or condition of being mediocre; spec. a moderate or average degree of mental ability, talents, skill, or the like; middling capacity, endowment, or accomplishment. Now chiefly with disparaging implication, in contrast with excellence or superiority.
| 1588 Marprel. Epist. (Arb.) 11 Secondly, you haue to your mediocritie written against the Papists. 1589 Nashe Pref. Greene's Menaphon (Arb.) 14 Which makes me thinke that either the louers of mediocritie are verie many, or that the number of good Poets, are very small. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. ii. §8 For Moderne Histories..there are some fewe verie worthy, but the greater part beneath Mediocritie. 1624 Fisher in F. White Repl. F. 300, I am persuaded no vnlearned man that hath in him any sparke of humilitie, or any mediocritie of Iudgement, will vndertake it. 1656 Sanderson Serm. (1689) 440 If a man have once attained to a good mediocrity in this Art. 1709 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to Miss A. Wortley 21 Aug., Leave me my own mediocrity of agreeableness and genius. 1776 Adam Smith W.N. i. x. (1869) I. 111 To excel in any profession, in which but few arrive at mediocrity, is the most decisive mark of what is called genius. 1822 J. Imison Sci. & Art II. 391 The way to avoid mediocrity, is by the study..of beautiful productions. a 1859 Macaulay Biog. (1867) 212 The most important offices in the state were bestowed on decorous and laborious mediocrity. 1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 141 He who would attempt it must be either a fool or a military genius... A respectable mediocrity has hitherto been the order of the day. |
6. concr. A person of mediocre talents or ability.
| 1694 Congreve Double Dealer ii. i, Methinks he wants a manner,..some distinguishing quality..; he is too much a mediocrity, in my mind. 1840 Mill Diss. & Disc. (1859) II. 408 He [the American President] is now always either an unknown mediocrity, or a man whose reputation has been acquired in some other field than that of politics. 1874 Green Short Hist. x. §4. 801 Spencer Perceval, an industrious mediocrity of the narrowest type. |