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.
But rather famish them amid their plenty. --Shak.
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, ※ because he was then considered as one of the angels. But when the poet adds,
From amidst them forth he passed, ※ we have rather the idea of the angels as a collective body.
Those squalid cabins and uncleared woods amidst which he was born. --Macaulay. ※ ||
Chairman Charles W. Knapp forced to resign amidst $6.8 billion deposit run.
But in utterly unreformed Ukraine, GDP declined by 32 per cent in 1992 and 1993 alone. Expectations can be turned around and reforms successfully started even amidst the ruins left by communism.
The few chaste condom commercials are barely noticed amidst the scores of newscasts graphically detailing the spread of AIDS.
A volunteer sunflower has sprung up amidst the peppers.
The 75-foot tall Olympic flame was ignited amidst a backdrop of fireworks and music.
Juan promised to take them with him to his village high up in the sierra where other cats lived amidst the hills.
In the past, similar attempts wilted amidst the politically destabilising effects of the reforms. The medium-term outlook, however, will continue to be hampered by the inadequacy of the country's infrastructure.
"Out there at the airport walking amidst the bodies and the debris that just seemed to have disintegrated into millions of pieces, it was like Dante's Inferno.
"I'm not going to take anything for granted and say it's a cinch," Knutson said. "We work as if we need every last contact. I like to be out amidst it.
The sacking comes amidst continued fighting against the SNM in the north and intensified battles against the rebel United Somali Congress in central Somalia.
Eramian said Justice Department prosecutors were concerned about the case's impact in a limited number of cases in which a defendant is prosecuted after testifying before Congress amidst widespread publicity.
It is a symbol of the wilderness amidst the booming development of South Florida," said Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan.
Even her dangerous lines 'May the weasel and the otter be about their proper business' find a place amidst the evil in the dark.
The presidential nomination of a political party represents more than the singular and personal triumph of one leader's voice amidst the chorus of philosophy and alliances and loyalties.
But the United Nations was established 44 years ago upon the ashes of war, and amidst great hopes.
He eventually landed in the middle of a downtown intersection, amidst motorists and hundreds of pedestrians attending an outdoor food festival.
But by the end of the decade, Mr. Acker had few fans and had lost his job amidst boardroom infighting.
Repertory has ranged widely; popular favourites, while not excluded, are set amidst rarer blooms.