On diverse "mean" meanings (was; midget in glasses)

[Erica <cymru1ca@yahoo.ca>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51007

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jim Ferer <jferer at y...>" 
<jferer at y...> wrote:
> Jodel:"The "literary" usage of the therm "mean" has historically 
been
> to signify "lowly". This usage continued in comparitively common
> circumstances into at least the early 20th century. ("Down these 
mean
> streets [must go] a man who is not mean, neither tarnished, nor
> afraid" --Raymond Chandler in one of his  omniciant narriator
> interjections.)"
> 
> Of course you are right. Here's the sentence as Trelawney said it:
> ""I was saying, my dear, that you were clearly born under the 
baleful
> [harmful] influence of Saturn," said Professor Trelawney....."I was
> saying that Saturn was surely in a position of power in the heavens 
at
> the moment of your birth. . . . Your dark hair. . . your mean
> stature...tragic losses so young in life. . "
> 
> Now substitute 'average height' into the sentence about Saturn's
> baleful influence:
> 
> "Saturn was surely in a position of power in the heavens at the 
moment
> of your birth. . . . Your dark hair. . . your average 
height...tragic
> losses so young in life. . "
> 
> Does that meaning fit Trelawney's umpteenth recap of Harry's hard-
luck
> life, or does this?
> 
> "Saturn was surely in a position of power in the heavens at the 
moment
> of your birth. . . . Your dark hair. . . your lowly, shabby
> stature...tragic losses so young in life. . "
> 
> Sounds more consistent with Trelawney's drift, no?
> 
> Quotes have to be taken in context and account for where the 
speaker's
> coming from.  Since Trelawney always seems darn near disappointed
> Harry is still breathing, why would she call attention to his
> 'average' height?
> 
> Jodel is right, and the literary meaning, as he well put it, is
> clearly the correct one.
> 

The zodiacal (?) sign where Saturn is in a position of power (Sun 
Sign) is Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 20).  I think that Trelawny was 
diagnosing Harry as a Capricorn - the 'black hair' 'mean stature' are 
all characteristics of a 'typical' capricorn

STATURE OF SIGNS :

Aquarius, Pisces, Aries and Taurus are short; Leo, Virgo, Libra and 
Scorpio are long and Gemini, Cancer, Sagittarius and Capricorn are of 
medium stature.

Erica (flogging that comatose horse ;) )