prep. and adv. Forms: α. 4 imyddes, y myddes, emiddes, in myddes. β. 4–6 amyddes, 5 -is, 6 -ys, amiddes, amydes, 6–7 amids. γ. 6 amidest, 6–7 amiddest, amid’st, (7 immid’st), 7– amidst. [f. AMID, a-midde, with genitive -s, added to many advb. phrases. Subseq. corrupted (in the south), by form-assoc. with superlatives, to -st. Cf. amongst, against, betwixt. The early variants y myddes, in middes, shew resolution into the two elements: cf. AMID. Also aphetized MIDST.] There is a tendency to use amidst more distributively than amid, e.g., of things scattered about, or a thing moving, in the midst of others.
A. adv.
1. In the middle or central part. † a. absol. Obs.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXXII. 158. The rofe was golde, and amiddes A carbuncle.
b. with of. (In prose usually in (the) midst of.).
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. of Fame, 714. Right even in myddes of the way.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 278/4. A right fayr sterre whiche shone amyddes of the celle.
1565. T. Stapleton, Bede’s Hist. Ch. Eng., 66. Warme with a softe fyre burning amidest therof.
a. 1628. Sir J. Beaumont, Poems. Immid’st of flames, or through the raging tide.
1868. Morris, Earthly Par., I. 141. Amidst of these. Ibid., II. 279. Amidst of spring.
B. prep.
1. In or into the middle or center of. a. with sing. sb.
α. a. 1300. Cursor M., 655. Yon a tre … þat standis emiddes [Cott. in midward, Trin. amidde] paradis.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 6451. Als þe yholk ymyddes þe egge lys … Right swa es þe erthe … Ymyddes þe hevens þat gas obout.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XI. 33. A man in a bot · in-myddes a brode water.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, XII. 4957. Ymyddes the halle Was a tre … all of tru gold.
β. c. 1400. Destr. Troy, XXI. 8774. Þo maisturs gert make, amyddes his hede, A hole þurgh his herne-pon.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xiv. 619. Amyddes the Feld there it lay.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccviii. 190. The Communers … token the bisshop and led hym amyddes Chepe.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXIX. 141. She did him up wynde, Amiddes the wall, and left hym there … fyve fadom and more from the grounde.
1607. Topsell, Four-footed Beasts (1673), 131. They plunge amids the water and passe the stream with their pawes.
γ. 1595. Edwardes, in Shaks. Cent. Praise, 18. Amid’st the Center of this clime.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 661. The fruit of this fair tree amidst The garden.
1692. E. Walker, Epictetus (1737), Prol. Pensive, amidst the bellowing throng.
1866. G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., xxx. (1878), 526. And died amidst a circle of friends.
b. with pl. sb. (Often becoming less definite = Amongst, surrounded by.)
β. c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xlvi. 167. Amyddes the stretes … they maden ful gret hepes. Ibid., li. 122. Amyddis his bretherin twelve.
1614. Chapman, Odyss., XIII. 261. Lost, Amids the moving waters.
γ. c. 1590. Marlowe, Dido, I. i. 369. Build his throne amidst those starry towers.
1605. Camden, Rem., 100. A plaine amiddest woods.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 677. And dared amidst the trembling Ghosts to sing.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xx. 239. A noble woman … who died amidst the tormentors hands.
1762. Hume, Hist. Eng. (1806), III. 320. Amidst his friends and vassals.
1842. Borrow, Bible in Spain (1849), 59. The road … winding amidst thickets of broom and brushwood.
1853. Thackeray, Eng. Hum., iv. 202. Amidst the fumes of tobacco.
2. Of state, condition, or surrounding circumstances: Amongst, in the course of. a. with sing. sb.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Monkes T., 739. Yet was he caught amyddes al his pride.
a. 1541. Wyatt, Poet. Wks. (1861), 66. Unless I sterve, For hunger still amiddes my food.
1613. Purchas, Pilgr., I. I. xiii. 61. Amiddest the which hee fell asleepe.
1620. Bp. Hall, Hon. Marr. Clergie, Concl. It was written … amids the heat of contention.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, III. Ded. To smile amidst adversity.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 535. Amidst the splendour and festivity of a court.
1866. G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., ii. (1878), 19. Amidst the downward sweep of events.
b. with pl. sb.
a. 1604. Hanmer, Chron. Irel., 108. Amids the warres of France, Flanders, and England.
1659. Gentl. Calling (1696), 65. Amidst all the seducements of Wealth.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 7, ¶ 6. Amidst all the evils that threaten me.
1794. S. Williams, Hist. Vermont, 162. Which is never found amidst the refinements of polished societies.
1849. Sir J. Stephen, Ess. Eccl. Biogr., I. 253. Amidst his ascetic follies. Ibid., 275. Amidst the funeral rites, the soldered coffin had been opened.
