I. ˈmidzt, ˈmidst, ˈmitst noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English middest, alteration of middes, back-formation from amiddes amid — more at amid
1. : the interior or central part or point : middle , interior — preceded by the or occasionally a possessive and now usually only in prepositional phrases
the trees in the midst of the forest
fine early houses set in the midst of a region of fine farms — American Guide Series: New Hampshire
passing through the midst of some great inland sea — Carl Van Vechten
sooner or later India would seek to wipe out this enclave in its midst — Collier's Year Book
2. : position among the members of a group, company, or society — preceded by the or a possessive and used only in prepositional phrases
a visitor in our midst
dangerous criminals in their midst
they saw him in their midst like an avenging Marius — J.A.Froude
why it was he should feel in the midst of all these people so utterly detached and so lonely — Louis Bromfield
missionaries in the midst of the unbelieving — W.H.Whyte
a cluster of three or four villages … in the midst of irrigated rice fields — Francis Kingdon-Ward
3.
a. : the condition of being figuratively surrounded
grew up in the midst of farm influences — H.W.Wiley
or beset
nor should he ever forget, in the midst of his problems, that there are large if circumscribed powers that lie within himself — Weston La Barre
b. : a period of time approximately about the middle of the duration or embracing all except the extreme beginning and end of the duration (as of an event, state, or action)
in the midst of a long reign
the model which he was in the midst of building — Marcia Davenport
in the midst of life we are in death — Book of Com. Prayer
4. obsolete : a middle course : mean , medium
Synonyms: see center
II. adverb
1. archaic : in the middle place
2. : in the midst
III. preposition
Etymology: probably short for amidst
: in the midst of : amidst
heads down the harbor midst the cheers — Helen Henley