Meager

Pronunciation: /ˈmiːɡər/

Definitions of meager

adjective a small or insufficient amount; lacking in quantity or quality

Example Sentences

A1 She had a meager amount of food left in her fridge.

A2 The village had only a meager water supply during the dry season.

B1 The company offered him a meager salary for the amount of work he was expected to do.

B2 Despite his meager resources, he managed to build a successful business.

C1 The artist's meager beginnings did not hinder his rise to fame.

C2 The meager results of the experiment were disappointing to the researchers.

Examples of meager in a Sentence

formal The meager amount of funding allocated to the project was insufficient to cover all expenses.

informal I was disappointed by the meager portion of food they served at the party.

slang I can't believe they only gave me a meager tip for delivering their food.

figurative Her meager attempts at apologizing did little to repair the damage done.

Grammatical Forms of meager

• past tense: meagered
• plural: meagers
• comparative: more meager
• superlative: most meager
• present tense: meagers
• future tense: will be meager
• perfect tense: have meagered
• continuous tense: am meagering
• singular: meager
• positive degree: meager
• infinitive: to meager
• gerund: meagering
• participle: meagered

Origin and Evolution of meager

First Known Use: 0014 year

Language of Origin: Old French and Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'meager' originated from the Old French word 'maigre' which came from the Latin word 'macer' meaning lean or thin.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'meager' has retained its meaning of being lacking in quantity or quality, but has also come to be used in a more figurative sense to describe something inadequate or unsatisfactory.