Etymology Map
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Meager

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means lacking in quantity or quality

Where does the word "meager" come from? It comes from Latin macer, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
macer
Latin · ancient
"thin"
the root of 'emaciated'
2
Stage 2 of 3
maigre
Old French · medieval
"thin"
'maigre' is still French for lean
3
Stage 3 of 3
meager
English · 1300s
"thin"
the American spelling 'meager' dropped the British '-re'
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Read the full story

Meager’s story begins in Latin: macer meant “thin.” The root of 'emaciated'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as maigre. 'maigre' is still French for lean. It reached English by 1300s as meager. The American spelling 'meager' dropped the British '-re'. Today, meager means lacking in quantity or quality.