Amidst definition

Amidst





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1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Amidst \A*midst"\, Amid \A*mid"\, prep. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on
     midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle.
     The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the
     genitive; the t is a later addition, as in whilst, amongst,
     alongst. See {Mid}.]
     In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by;


     among. "This fair tree amidst the garden." "Unseen amid the
     throng." "Amidst thick clouds." --Milton. "Amidst
     acclamations." "Amidst the splendor and festivity of a
     court." --Macaulay.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           But rather famish them amid their plenty. --Shak.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: {Amidst}, {Among}.
  
     Usage: These words differ to some extent from each other, as
            will be seen from their etymology. Amidst denotes in
            the midst or middle of, and hence surrounded by; as,
            this work was written amidst many interruptions. Among
            denotes a mingling or intermixing with distinct or
            separable objects; as, "He fell among thieves."
            "Blessed art thou among women." Hence, we say, among
            the moderns, among the ancients, among the thickest of
            trees, among these considerations, among the reasons I
            have to offer. Amid and amidst are commonly used when
            the idea of separate or distinguishable objects is not
            prominent. Hence, we say, they kept on amidst the
            storm, amidst the gloom, he was sinking amidst the
            waves, he persevered amidst many difficulties; in none
            of which cases could among be used. In like manner,
            Milton speaks of Abdiel,
  
                  The seraph Abdiel, faithful found;
                  Among the faithless faithful only he,
            [1913 Webster] because he was then considered as one
            of the angels. But when the poet adds,
  
                  From amidst them forth he passed,
            [1913 Webster] we have rather the idea of the angels
            as a collective body.
  
                  Those squalid cabins and uncleared woods amidst
                  which he was born.                --Macaulay.
            [1913 Webster]

















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