Mid (mĭd), a. [Compar.wanting; superl.Midmost.] [AS. midd; akin to OS. middi, D. mid (in comp.), OHG. mitti, Icel. miðr, Goth. midjis, L. medius, Gr. μέσοσ, Skr. madhya. √271. Cf. Amid, Middle, Midst, Mean, Mediate, Meridian, Mizzen, Moiety.]
1. Denoting the middle part; as, in mid ocean.
No more the mounting larks, while Daphne sings,
Shall list'ning in mid air suspend their wings. Pope.
2. Occupying a middle position; middle; as, the mid finger; the mid hour of night.
3. (Phon.) Made with a somewhat elevated position of some certain part of the tongue, in relation to the palate; midway between the high and the low; — said of certain vowel sounds; as, ā (āle), ĕ (ĕll), ō (ōld). See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 10, 11.
☞ Mid is much used as a prefix, or combining form, denoting the middle or middle part of a thing; as, mid-air, mid-channel, mid-age, midday, midland, etc. Also, specifically, in geometry, to denote a circle inscribed in a triangle (a midcircle), or relation to such a circle; as, mid-center, midradius.