Edit page | Page history | Printable version

mid

1. Denoting the middle part; as, in mid ocean. No more the mounting larks, while daphne sings, Shall list'ning in mid air suspend their wings. (pope)

2. Occupying a middle position; middle; as, the mid finger; the mid hour of night.

3. Made with a somewhat elevated position of some certain part of the tongue, in relation to the palate; midway between the high and the low; said of certain vowel sounds; as, a (ale), e (ell), o (old).

(Science: prefix) Mid is much used as a prefix, or combining form, denoting the middle or middle part of a thing; as, mid-air, mid-channel, mid-age, midday, midland, etc. Also, specifically, in geometry, to denote a circle inscribed in a triangle (a midcircle), or relation to such a circle; as, mid-center, midradius.

Origin: AS. Midd; akin to OS. Middi, D. Mid (in comp), OHG. Mitti, Icel. Mir, Goth. Midjis, L. Medius, Gr, Skr. Madhya. Cf. Amid, Middle, Midst, Mean, Mediate, Meridian, Mizzen, Moiety.