Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Mealy-mouthed

Meal′y-mouthedˊ

,
Adj.
Using soft words; not straightforward; plausible; affectedly or timidly delicate of speech; speaking deviously; unwilling to tell the truth in plain language. Opposite of
frank
or
blunt
.
“Mealy-mouthed philanthropies.”
Tennyson.
She was a fool to be
mealy-mouthed
where nature speaks so plain.
L’Estrange.
–
Meal′y-mouthˊness
(#)
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Mealy-mouthed

ME'ALY-MOUTHED

,
Adj.
Literally,having a soft mouth; hence,unwilling to tell the truth in plain language; inclined to speak of any thing in softer terms than the truth will warrant.