1550s, "weakness," from mean (adj.1) + -ness. Sense of "baseness, poverty, want of dignity or distinction" is from 1650s; that of "sordid illiberality, stinginess" from 1755. The Middle English senses were "fellowship; land held in common," from Old English gemænnes.
meaning
meaningful
meaningless
meaningly
meanly
meanness
means
mean-spirited
meant
meantime
meanwhile