Middle English Dictionary Entry
amid-ward adv. & prep.
Entry Info
| Forms | amid-ward adv. & prep. Also amidde-, imid-, emid-. |
| Etymology | Cp. amid(de . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) In or near the center, in the middle, midway; (b) within, inside; in, into; on (a rock).
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)51/25 : Ðe trewe ðe stant amidewarde paradise.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)691 : Jt had..An horne in þe forehede amydward.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)6447 : For als a dalk es even Imydward Þe yholke of þe egge..Ryght swa es helle pitte..Ymyddes þe erthe.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.631 : Their hiest top choppe of..Or choppe of that amydward in the tre.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1936 : Seuen chaynes with his good swerde Our kynge forcarfe a mydwarde.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8769 : The body of þat bold..Was full solemly set..Ymydward the mayne towmbe.
b
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)872 : Hauelok shof dun nyne or ten Rith amidewarde þe fen.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)187/93 : He let maken a swyþe gret fuyr..Seint Vincent huy lei[den] a-mide-warde.
- a1350 Horn (Hrl 2253)32/556 : Y shal do pruesse..amiddewart [vr. in] þe felde.
- c1330(?a1300) Rich.(Auch)118/38 : He..Stered his galaye riȝt euen Al amidward þe hauen.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)81.1 : In þe synagoge..he [God] brouȝt to nouȝt þe fals goddes amidward [L in medio].
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1332 : Þe chambre stod oppon þe se amidward a roch of stone [F sor une roce].
2.
Of a gathering: in or into the midst, among.
Associated quotations
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)2873 : Þo he com amidward, About he leyd on so hard, Þat his swerd brast atvo.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)2392 : Þe Almaunis him asayl hastiliche: Y-loken he was hem amidwerd.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)37/829 : Riȝt amide ward þe pres Com ride maister Ancilles.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)15026 : Sum kest þaire claþis doun a-mydwarde in þat þrange.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)16404 : Pilate..wess his hend emidward [Ld, Trin-C: among] þat folk bliue.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)670 : Evirmore he held hym a-mydward the route.
3.
Of circumstances, activities, etc.: (a) amidst; in, during; (b) þou lexst ~ þi teþ, you lie in your teeth, you lie outright or maliciously.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)47/27 : He is ilich ðo manne ðe berð dust amidewarde ðe winde [L in vento].
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)49/22 : Ðe blinde, ðe stant amidewarde ðe scinende sunne and of hire naht ne isikð.
- ?a1300 Fox & W.(Dgb 86)274 : Riȝt amidward here houssonge Al-hone to þe putte he hede.
- a1325 Wan y was (Bod 622)p.18 : Wanne y was ryche, tho was y harde; And er y wyste, y deies [vr. deied] amidwarde.
b
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4385 : Gij seyd, 'þou me hast bitreyd'..Morgadour answerd..'Þou lexst amidward þi teþ [Cai: euen in thy tethe].'