mete

[ meet ]

/ mit /

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verb (used with object), met·ed, met·ing.

to distribute or apportion by measure; allot; dole (usually followed by out): to mete out punishment.

Archaic. to measure.

OTHER WORDS FOR mete

1 deal, measure, parcel.

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QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of mete

before 900; Middle English; Old English metan; cognate with Dutch meten,Old Norse meta,Gothic mitan,German messen to measure, Greek mḗdesthai to ponder

OTHER WORDS FROM mete

un·met·ed, adjective

Other definitions for mete (2 of 3)

mete²

[ meet ]

/ mit /

noun

a limiting mark.

a limit or boundary.

OTHER WORDS FOR mete

2 bound.

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Origin of mete

1275–1325; Middle English <Middle French <Latin mēta goal, turning post

Other definitions for mete (3 of 3)

Met.E.

abbreviation

metallurgical engineer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mete in a sentence

The most severe punishment, loss of vacation days, was meted out to nine officers.
ProPublica’s “NYPD Files” Wins John Jay College/Harry Frank Guggenheim Award for Excellence in Criminal Justice Reporting|by ProPublica|February 11, 2021|ProPublica
He was obsessive about lifting weights, according to former Maine Coach Jack Cosgrove, and as his body grew into its eventual 311-pound frame, so did his confidence to mete out punishment.
A 300-pound former defensive lineman has become an offensive playmaker for the Ravens|Roman Stubbs|January 15, 2021|Washington Post
Their execution, “was the swiftest punishment ever meted out under the Lindbergh Law,” one news article said, referring to the federal kidnapping statute passed by Congress after the historic Lindbergh kidnapping.
The last time a woman was executed for a federal crime, a kidnapping riveted the nation|Samantha Schmidt|January 12, 2021|Washington Post
A trailer for the film posted a few months later shows Profitt starring as Detective John Davis, who resigns from his department to mete out justice on his own terms.
How Criminal Cops Often Avoid Jail|by Andrew Ford, Asbury Park Press|September 23, 2020|ProPublica

In my family, I felt anyway, like love was somewhat proportionately meted out according to your accomplishments.
Introducing “No Stupid Questions” (Ep. 422)|Stephen J. Dubner|June 18, 2020|Freakonomics
The unfortunate reality is that race, gender, and economic status do matter when justice is meted out.
The Post-Brown and Garner Question: Who ‘Deserves’ to Die?|Goldie Taylor|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Will they escape the harsh punishment meted out to the Pharrell Williams ‘Happy’ dancers?
The Blinged-Up Rich Kids of Tehran on Instagram|Lizzie Crocker|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is not a scarce commodity to be meted out begrudgingly or in short portions.
The Heroic Lesbian Couple of Oklahoma Who Fought for Equal Marriage—and Won|Randy R. Potts|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Draconian punishments were meted out to supposed sinners and traitors.
Saddam’s Former Deputy, the Red Skull of Baghdad, Still at Large in Iraq and Allied With ISIS|Jacob Siegel, Christopher Dickey|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But in this case the system was exact and precise in the punishment meted out—he deserves every one of those 1,000 years.
Ariel Castro’s Victim Fantasy—and Why Prison Will Make It Worse|Mansfield Frazier|August 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He had meted out stern justice to his own son, when he had banished big Reginald to South America; but he had his virtues.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
He had apparently forgotten the terrible role he had accepted and the doom he had meted out to her enemies.
The Man of the Forest|Zane Grey
A much milder punishment was meted out to the Comtesse de Soissons.
Court Beauties of Old Whitehall|W. R. H. Trowbridge
More tragic even was the punishment meted out to the Jewish informers who betrayed their people to the enemy.
A History of Mediaeval Jewish Philosophy|Isaac Husik
Another bloody tyrant was dead, by the violence which he had meted out to so many others, and they were glad.
Aurelian|William Ware

British Dictionary definitions for mete (1 of 2)

mete¹

/ (miːt) /

verb (tr)

(usually foll by out) formal to distribute or allot (something, often unpleasant)

verb, noun

poetic, dialect (to) measure

Word Origin for mete

Old English metan; compare Old Saxon metan, Old Norse meta, German messen to measure

British Dictionary definitions for mete (2 of 2)

mete²

/ (miːt) /

noun

rare a mark, limit, or boundary (esp in the phrase metes and bounds)

Word Origin for mete

C15: from Old French, from Latin mēta goal, turning post (in race)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

mete

OTHER WORDS FOR mete

Origin of mete

OTHER WORDS FROM mete

Other definitions for mete (2 of 3)

OTHER WORDS FOR mete

Origin of mete

Other definitions for mete (3 of 3)

Words related to mete

How to use mete in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mete (1 of 2)

Word Origin for mete

British Dictionary definitions for mete (2 of 2)

Word Origin for mete