{ } 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

But rather famish them amid their plenty. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Amidst, Among. 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, [ 1913 Webster ] because he was then considered as one of the angels. But when the poet adds, -- From amidst them forth he passed, [ 1913 Webster ] we have rather the idea of the angels as a collective body. Those squalid cabins and uncleared woods amidst which he was born. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From middest, in the middest, for older in middes, where -s is adverbial (orig. forming a genitive), or still older a midde, a midden, on midden. See Mid, and cf. Amidst. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The interior or central part or place; the middle; -- used chiefly in the objective case after in; as, in the midst of the forest. [ 1913 Webster ]

And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him. Luke iv. 35. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is nothing . . . in the midst [ of the play ] which might not have been placed in the beginning. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, figuratively, the condition of being surrounded or beset; the press; the burden; as, in the midst of official duties; in the midst of secular affairs. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The expressions in our midst, in their midst, etc., are avoided by some good writers, the forms in the midst of us, in the midst of them, etc., being preferred. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Midst, Middle. Midst in present usage commonly denotes a part or place surrounded on enveloped by or among other parts or objects (see Amidst); while middle is used of the center of length, or surface, or of a solid, etc. We say in the midst of a thicket; in the middle of a line, or the middle of a room; in the midst of darkness; in the middle of the night. [ 1913 Webster ]

prep. In the midst of; amidst. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the middle. [ R. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the middle of a stream; as, don't change horses in midstream. [ WordNet 1.5 ]