I. A middle state, a medium, mean; moderateness, moderation (class.): “mediocritatem illam tenere, quae est inter nimium et parum,” Cic. Off. 1, 25, 89; 1, 39, 140: “in dicendo,” mediocrity, id. de Or. 1, 25, 117: “dicendi,” id. Brut. 66, 235: “vultus,” i. e. a medium between excessive gayety and over-seriousness, Auct. Her. 3, 15, 26: “auream quisquis mediocritatem Diligit,” Hor. C. 2, 10, 5. —Of style: “cum omnis virtus sit mediocritas,” Cic. Brut. 40, 149: mediocritatis (exemplum esse) Terentium, Varr. ap. Gell. 6, 14, 6.—In plur.: “mediocritates illi probabant,” moderate passions, Cic. Ac. 2, 44, 135: “mediocritates vel perturbationum vel morborum animi,” id. Tusc. 3, 10, 22.—
II. Meanness, insignificance, littleness, inferiority (rare but class.): “hominum,” Vell. 2, 130, 3: “quod meae mediocritati conveniret,” my insignificance, Gell. 14, 2, 25; cf.: “mediocritas nostra,” my modest self, Vell. 2, 111, 3: “ingenii,” Cic. Phil. 2, 1, 2: “memoriae,” Quint. 11, 2, 39.
