On diverse "mean" meanings

[eloiseherisson at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 51011

Erica:
(quoting JOdel)
>> "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?
>>
And Jim's comment: 
>>Jodel is right, and the literary meaning, as he well put it, is
>> clearly the correct one.
> 
Erica:
>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

Just putting in my two knuts.
Although my husband says the reading isn't clear (too much fog in the crystal 
ball, perhaps?) I would agree with JOdel and Jim. Trelawney speaks in a more 
literary than technical manner.

According to my dictionary (Oxford Ref.), there are two (out of 6) possibly 
relevant meanings of mean (adj) : 1) niggardly; not generous or 
liberal........... 3) (of a person's capacity, understanding, etc) inferior, 
poor.

"Of mean estate" means poor. By analogy, "of mean stature" means short.
To use 'mean' in that technical sense would just be unidiomatic English, IMO. 
Certainly not Trelawney's style. I've never heard anyone use "mean" in 
conversation in quite that way.

Erica:
>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.
>

Well, not necessarily in JKR's universe, where mythology and therefore 
potentially astrology, is adapted to her own whims and needs.

~Eloise
(Pisces/Aries cusp and 5' 7", FWIW)