Question what you read

Writing is a way of talking without being interrupted. Jules Renard.

Jean-Paul Sartre is sitting at a French cafe, revising his draft of Being and Nothingness. He says to the waitress, “I’d like a cup of coffee, please, with no cream.” The waitress replies, “I’m sorry, monsieur, but we’re out of cream. How about with no milk?”

What a wonderful word – what does it mean? Inadequate or meagre