meso

meso is an uncommon content word and post-pu nimi ku suli relating to the middle of something, or between two or more things.

meso
Pronunciation	/ˈme.so/
Usage	2023: Uncommon44-category system, Common66-category system (52% → )2022: Common (52%)
Book and era	nimi ku suli (post-pu)
Part of speech	Content word
Codepoint	󱦂 U+F1982

Etymology

The word meso is derived from Greek μέσος (mésos), meaning "middle, intermediate", which is also the origin of the taxonomic, biological, and English prefix meso-. It was coined by jan Olipija in 2020.

Semantic space

The semantic space of meso includes the middle or midpoint of something, and the space inside or between multiple things, overlapping with insa. meso can refer to a neutral or intermediate area between two opposite extremes, neither one nor the other, such as between pona and ike. It is sometimes used with the connotation of mediocre.

ku

For Toki Pona Dictionary, respondents in ma pona pi toki pona translated these English words as meso:

average³41–60% of respondents, moderate³41–60% of respondents, medium³41–60% of respondents, intermediate²21–40% of respondents, ordinary²21–40% of respondents

sitelen pona

The sitelen pona glyph for meso (󱦂) resembles the glyphs for other location words, and is a location dot between 2 vertical bars.

sitelen sitelen

The sitelen sitelen glyph for meso was designed by lon Jawin, jan Saki, and Jonathan Gabel. The glyph may be drawn either with two or three "legs". Similarly to the glyph for musi the mouth may range from neutral, to a smile or frown, giving an emotional cue to the meaning of the glyph.

• 

  Original design of the glyph for meso by lon Jawin

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  Iteration process for by jan Saki, with proposals from lon Jawin and Gabel (jan Josan)

Further reading

• "meso" on lipu Linku
• "meso" on lipu Wikipesija
• "meso" on English Wiktionary