Part 7037

<hw>Mid"ships`</hw>, <tt>n. pl.</tt> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>The timbers at the broadest part of the vessel.</def>

<i>R. H. Dana, Jr.</i>

<h1>Midst</h1> <Xpage=922>

<hw>Midst</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[From <ets>middest</ets>, <ets>in the middest</ets>, for older <ets>in middes</ets>, where <ets>-s</ets> is adverbial (orig. forming a genitive), or still older <ets>a midde</ets>, <ets>a midden</ets>, <ets>on midden</ets>. See <er>Mid</er>, and cf. <er>Amidst</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The interior or central part or place; the middle; -- used chiefly in the objective case after <i>in</i>; <as>as, in the <ex>midst</ex> of the forest</as>.</def>

<blockquote>And when the devil had thrown him in the <b>midst</b>, he came out of him. <i>Luke iv. 35.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>There is nothing... in the <b>midst</b> [of the play] which might not have been placed in the beginning. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Hence, figuratively, the condition of being surrounded or beset; the press; the burden; <as>as, in the <ex>midst</ex> of official duties; in the <ex>midst</ex> of secular affairs.</as></def>

<note>&hand; The expressions <i>in our midst</i>, <i>in their midst</i>, etc., are avoided by some good writers, the forms <i>in the midst of us</i>, <i>in the midst of them</i>, etc., being preferred.</note>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Midst</er>, <er>Middle</er>.</syn> <usage> <i>Midst</i> in present usage commonly denotes a part or place surrounded on enveloped by or among other parts or objects (see <er>Amidst</er>); while <i>middle</i> is used of the center of length, or surface, or of a solid, etc. We say in the <i>midst</i> of a thicket; in the <i>middle</i> of a line, or the <i>middle</i> of a room; in the <i>midst</i> of darkness; in the <i>middle</i> of the night.</usage>

<h1>Midst</h1> <Xpage=922>

<hw>Midst</hw>, <tt>prep.</tt> <def>In the midst of; amidst.</def>

<i>Shak.</i>

<h1>Midst</h1> <Xpage=922>

<hw>Midst</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In the middle.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Milton.</i>

<h1>Midsummer</h1> <Xpage=922>

<hw>Mid"sum`mer</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>midsumor</ets>.]</ety> <def>The middle of summer.</def>

<i>Shak.</i>

<cs><col>Midsummer daisy</col> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>, <cd>the oxeye daisy.</cd></cs>

<h1>Midward</h1> <Xpage=922>

<hw>Mid"ward</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Situated in the middle.</def>

<h1>Midward</h1> <Xpage=922>

<hw>Mid"ward</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In or toward the midst.</def>

<h1>Midway</h1> <Xpage=922>

<hw>Mid"way`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The middle of the way or distance; a middle way or course.</def>

<i>Shak.</i>

<blockquote>Paths indirect, or in the <b>midway</b> faint. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>