Lacking in quantity or quality (6) Crossword Clue
Answer: MEAGRE (6 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Lacking in quantity or quality" with 6 letters is "MEAGRE".Meagre means lacking in quantity or quality, often used to describe something that is insufficient or sparse. It refers to something that is deficient, whether it's food, resources, or effort, indicating that it falls short of expectations or needs.
Why “Meagre” Fits
The clue asks for a single word (6 letters) meaning “lacking in quantity or quality.” The answer, MEAGRE, fits perfectly:
- Lacking in quantity or quality: Meagre describes something that is scanty, insufficient, or poor in amount, size, or quality — exactly matching the clue’s definition.
- Direct match: With six letters, meagre fits the enumeration precisely.
- Precise meaning: The word conveys the idea of inadequacy or deficiency, often used to describe small portions, limited resources, or poor standards.
Meagre is a classic descriptive term that traces its roots back to Old French and Latin origins:
Origin and usage:
- Derived from Old French maigre meaning “thin” or “lean,” from Latin macrum (from macer, “thin” or “wasted”).
- Entered English in the late Middle Ages with a meaning related to both physical thinness and insufficiency in general.
Literal meaning:
- Originally described lean or emaciated persons (“a meagre frame”).
Figurative meaning:
- Later expanded to describe things deficient in quantity, richness, or quality — “a meagre meal,” “meagre earnings.”
Examples:
- “They survived on a meagre diet during the war.”
- “The charity received a meagre response to its appeal.”
- “He lived on meagre wages yet remained content.”
In quick crosswords like “Lacking in quantity or quality (6),” clues associated with deficiency or insufficiency often use concise vocabulary words:
Definition: The phrase “lacking in quantity or quality” defines meagre exactly, since it encapsulates both physical and abstract deficiency.
Clue type: Straightforward definition clue — no wordplay or misleading context.
Solving approach:
- Look for synonyms associated with scarcity or inadequacy — meagre, scanty, sparse, poor, paltry.
- The six-letter pattern leads directly to meagre as the most balanced fit in length and usage.
Crossword pattern: Adjectives like meagre frequently appear in clues relating to insufficiency, poverty, or thinness, valued for their versatility in meaning and easy recognition.
