amid
- 1Surrounded by, or in the middle of, something or some group of things.
The senator remained composed amid mounting criticism from both parties.
Wildflowers bloomed amid the rocky outcrops along the hillside.
Note
The preposition is a phrase worn down into a single word: Old English on middan, 'in the middle', became Middle English amidde, a- plus mid. It sits as comfortably among circumstances as among objects. A football match is played amid fevered anticipation, and a sword fight unfolds amid glass display cases. Among and amongst are its nearest neighbors.
- 2Archaic form of amide.
Note
An older chemical spelling that modern texts complete with a final e. Amide covers both compounds it names: acid derivatives whose hydroxyl group gives way to an amino group, and ionic derivatives of ammonia carrying a metal cation. It takes the ordinary plural amids. It shares only its letters with the preposition meaning 'in the middle of'. In current writing, use amide.
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Origin
From Middle English 'amidde', which came from Old English 'on middan', formed from 'a-' plus 'mid' (middle).