adv. and prep. Forms: 1 on middan, 2 on midden, 2–3 on midde, 3–4 a-midden, a midde, 4–5 a-mydde, in mydde, 5–6 a-myd, 3– amid. [orig. a phrase: on ‘in,’ middan, dat. sing. weak decl. of midde adj. ‘MID, middle’; as if = on þám middan (dǽle), on þǽre middan (stówe) ‘in the middle (place or part)’; hence either absolutely, or followed by a genitive, ‘in the middle of ——.’ Cf. L. in medio and Gr. ἐν μέσῳ, in which also the orig. adj. came to be used subst., and followed by the genitive: in medio montium. But already in OE. the phrase began to be treated as a prep., and followed by the dative, and in 12–13th c. the case signs were gradually dropped, leaving the governed sb. as a simple object. So late as 15th c. amid was still occas. expanded to in mid; cf. a-two, in two; a-live, in life.]
† A. adv. In the middle, in the midst. Obs.
a. 1000. Sal. & Sat., 262. Se fuʓol is on middan hwæles hiwes.
1205. Layam., 8154. Þe stæf tobræc amidden.
1297. R. Glouc., 14. A temple heo fonde fair y-now, and a mawmed amidde.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 3265. On þat oþer stage amidde ordeynt he gunnes grete.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7008. Al amydde I bilde and make My hous.
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., II. vii. (1588), 274. Amid betweene the violent Robber … and the miching theefe … standeth the crafty cutpurse.
B. prep.
1. In the middle or center of. Orig. (a 13th c.) with a genitive. Now only poet.
c. 975. Rushw. G., Luke xxii. 55. On middum cæfertune … wæs [Peter] in middum hiora.
c. 1000. Ags. G., ibid. Petrus wæs mid him on middan þam cafertune.
c. 1175. Cotton Hom., 221. Ane treowe þe stent on midden paradis.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 87. On midden þere se.
c. 1220. Leg. Kath., 1478. Amid te burh.
c. 1300. Pop. Sc. (Wright), 132. A-midde the hevene as the streon a-midde theye.
c. 1440. Morte Arth. (1819), 66. In mydde the felde we shall hem byde.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. v. 10. Amyd his cours, thare as he went.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 218. And all amid them stood the Tree of Life.
† 2. Of two things: Between. Obs.
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 62. Leste heo þes deofles quarreaus habbe amidden þen eien.
3. more loosely, Near the middle of (a place), surrounded on all sides by (objects). Chiefly poet. a. with sing. sb.: In the interior of (a place obs.), surrounded by (an extended body).
1340. Ayenb., 143. Þe play of children a-midde þe strete.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Compl. Mars, 79. In chambre amydde the paleys.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. vi. She kept it in full close Amyd her herte.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, IV. iv. The Peeres of Plutoes Realme assembled beene Amid the Palace of their angry King.
1730. Thomson, Autumn, 1156. Amid the miry gulf.
1790. Cowper, Odyss., XIX. 347. Amid the billowy flood.
1840. Longf., Voices of Nt., Flowers, ix. Like Ruth amid the golden corn.
b. with pl. sb.: Surrounded by, among (objects).
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 270. He … þet amidden his unwines lið him adun to slepen.
c. 1320. Cast. Loue, 333. A-midden alle his fon.
a. 1732. Gay, Wks., 1745, I. 90. Suffer me … Amid thy bays to weave this rural weed.
1747. Collins, Passions (1830), 58. His hand … Amid the chords bewilder’d laid.
1859. Capern, Bal. & Songs, 55. She is sitting in her cottage, Amid the flowers of May.
1874. Blackie, Self-Cult., 42. A certain part of his work … must be done amid books.
4. esp. In relation to the circumstances which surround an action. a. with sing. sb. (indicating state or condition).
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VII. x. 77. Amyd this deray This hate fury of slauchter and fell affray.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. i. 206. Amid this hurlie, I intend, That all is done in reuerend care of her.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 48. Amid the choice Of all tasts else to please thir appetite.
1790. Cowper, Iliad, II. 68. Amid the stillness.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, III. xxxi. Amid the broil.
1812. J. Wilson, Isle of Palms, I. 29. My spirit sleeps amid the calm.
1853. Kingsley, Hypatia, iii. (1869), 43. Keep her spirit pure amid it all.
1871. J. Macduff, Mem. Patmos, i. 12. The last voice heard amid the roll of apocalyptic thunders.
b. with pl. sb. (indicating actions or events).
1719. Young, Busiris, I. i. (1757), 9. How wanton sits she amid nature’s smiles! Ibid. (1728), Love of Fame, iv. (1757), 110. Amid sublimer views, To listen to the labours of the muse.
1812. Miss Austen, Mansf. Pk. (1847), 71. The carriage drove off amid the good wishes of the two remaining ladies.
1841. Brewster, Mart. Sci., II. iii. (1856), 130. Hope … still cheered him amid his labours.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., II. x. 472. Amid general shouts of dissent.
5. Comb. † amid-heaps (in 3 amid-hep(p)es for OE. on middan heápes), in midst of a heap or crowd; † amidmong (see MONG sb.), in the midst of. Also AMID-SHIPS, q.v.
c. 1230. Juliana, 69. Heo stod unhurt þer amidheppes heriende ure healent.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Paraphr. Mark xiv. 54. And there sate amidmong the lewde and ungracious companie of seruauntes.
