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Petty
Definitions
- 1 Having little or no importance. derogatory, often
"a petty fault petty squabbles"
- 2 Of persons or their behaviour: marked by or reflective of undesirably limited interests, sympathies, or views; begrudging, selfish, small-minded; also, preoccupied with subjects having little or no importance and not mindful of broader concerns. derogatory, often
"Such literature may well be anathema to those who are too docile and petty for their own good."
- 3 Inclined to cause frustration or annoyance to others out of spite over minor grievances; extremely vindictive. derogatory, informal, often
"My cousin is so petty—I forgot his birthday and he's been making snarky comments all week."
- 4 Of or relating to the lowest grade or level of school; junior, primary. historical
"Friends are separated for long portions of time even while they live; at last they take their leave for ever: although, I remember, when you left me in the petty form at Westminster, I soon afterwards found you in a higher remove: and this world is only the petty form of the universe; so I not only expect to pass a social hour with you here, but am in hopes of a merry meeting in a better place; […]"
- 5 Little or small in size.
"To morrow, and to morrow, and to morrow, / Creepes in this petty pace from day to day, / To the laſt Syllable of Recorded time: / And all our yeſterdayes, haue lighted Fooles / The way to duſty death."
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- 6 Secondary in importance or rank; minor, subordinate.
"petty cash petty officer"
- 1 contemptibly narrow in outlook wordnet
- 2 (informal) small and of little importance wordnet
- 3 inferior in rank or status wordnet
- 1 A surname.
- 1 An outbuilding used as a lavatory; an outhouse, a privy. dialectal, euphemistic, informal
"If these houses had been built by his Lordship every one would have had his petty, at all events dividing the odour & also having a chance that some of the occupiers would clean out—but a common occupation is nobody's business, unless the owner of all the buildings takes it in hand."
- 2 larceny of property having a value less than some amount (the amount varies by locale) wordnet
- 3 A class or school for young schoolboys. historical
"[…] I took my seat in what was denominated, "The Idle Class", that is, at the very bottom of the school, where all those who have not received some previous instruction in Latin are placed. I however soon got out of that disgraceful and ignorant form, passed with rapidity and eclat the under and upper petty, and entered into the upper first, […]"
- 4 A little schoolboy, either in grade or size. also, figuratively, in-plural, obsolete
"[S]ome of them, which were the Petties and Punies of that ſchoole, whereof old Martin [Marprelate] was the maſter; though then he was but as ſome blinde and obſcure pariſh Clarke that taught in the Belfrie, not preſuming, as hee doth nowe, to preſſe into the Church, (that place in reſpect of the appurtenances being fitter for him) began but rawly with their little a, b, c."
Etymology
The adjective is derived from Middle English peti, pety (“little, small; minor”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman petit, Middle French petit, and Old French peti, petit, pitet (“young; little, small; inferior; insignificant”) (modern French petit), ultimately of imitative origin. It is no longer thought that the word is derived from Celtic. Doublet of petit and petite. The noun is derived from the adjective.
The adjective is derived from Middle English peti, pety (“little, small; minor”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman petit, Middle French petit, and Old French peti, petit, pitet (“young; little, small; inferior; insignificant”) (modern French petit), ultimately of imitative origin. It is no longer thought that the word is derived from Celtic. Doublet of petit and petite. The noun is derived from the adjective.
See also for "petty"
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