\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.