amidst, prep. and adv.
(əˈmɪdst)
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. 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. 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 centre of.
a. with
sing. n.| 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. n. (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 Sp. (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. n.| c 1386 Chaucer Monk's 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. n.| 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. |