Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MID-DLE, a. [mid'l; Sax. middel; D. middel; G. mittel; Dan. middel; perhaps mid and deel; Sans. medhi and madhyam; L. medius; Gr. μεσος; It. mezzo; Sp. medio; Port. mayo, mediano; Ir. modham, muadh; Fr. midi, moyen, (mitan, obs.;) Ch. מצע. This word has the elements of the Sax. mid, D. mede, Sw. and Dan. mede, G. mit, with Gr. μετα, which is from the root of the English meet, – which see. Qu. has not the L. medius, in the phrase medius fidius, the sense of with or by; by or with my faith. In W. mid signifies an inclosure, a hem or list round a place. In Russ. mejdu signifies among. See Class Ms, No. 21, 27.]

1. Equally distant from the extremes; as, the middle point of a line or circle; the middle station of life. The middle path or course is most safe.
2. Intermediate; intervening. Will, seeking good, finds many middle ends. Davies. Middle ages, the ages or period of time about equally distant from the decline of the Roman empire and the revival of letters in Europe, or from the eighth to the fifteenth century of the Christian era.