/mɛns/
OriginFrom earlier mensk, from Middle English menske (“courtesy, honour”), from Old English mennisċu (“the human condition, humanity”) and/or Old Norse menska (“humanity”). More at mennish, mensch.
- countable, uncountableProperty, owndom; possessions.
- UK, countable, dialectal, uncountableDecency; propriety; civility.
“... But never a soul had the mense to come near them,[…]”
“Little mense to the cheeks to bite aff the nose[…]”
“For she had baked a crumpie cake And butter scones, for mense's sake, To entertain her lodger.”
- UK, countable, dialectal, uncountableA large amount.
“There is not a mense of snow in "smoky Leeds,"”
“He has a mense o' pure nonsense,”
- To adorn, bring honour to; grace.
Formsmenses(plural) · menses(present, singular, third-person) · mensing(participle, present) · mensed(participle, past) · mensed(past)