golden mean

English

Etymology

Calque of Latin aurea mediocritās.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) enPR: gōld'ən mēn, IPA(key): /ˈɡəʊl.dən ˈmiːn/
  • (US) enPR: gōld'ən mēn, IPA(key): /ˈɡoʊl.dən ˈmiːn/

Noun

golden mean (plural golden means)

  1. A position of balance between excess and deficiency.
    • Horace (Odes II - 10)
      Auream quisquis mediocritatem diligit, tutus caret obsoleti sordibus tecti, caret invidenda, sobrius aula. (He who chooses the golden mean safely avoids both the hovel and the palace).

Translations

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