medium etymology

Etymology

The word "medium" originates from the Latin word "medius," which means "middle."

Meaning

The term "medium" has several meanings, often relating to the idea of being in the middle or intermediate position:

• Something that transmits or conveys: A substance or channel through which something else is passed or communicated, such as water, air, or a computer network.
• A person who mediates or communicates: An intermediary or facilitator between two or more parties, especially between the physical world and the spiritual realm (in the context of spirituality or religion).
• Something that has intermediate characteristics: A size, quality, or position that is in the middle of a range or scale.
• In art: A material used for painting or drawing, such as acrylics, oils, or pastels.

Origin

The word "medium" entered the English language around the 16th century, derived from the Old French word "medien," which in turn came from the Latin "medius." The term has been used with various meanings throughout history, reflecting its multifaceted nature.

Additional Notes

• The plural of "medium" is "media," which has come to have a specific meaning in the context of mass communication (e.g., social media, television media).
• The adjective "medial" refers to something related to the middle or intermediate position.

medium relate terms

• media

  Etymology The word media is derived from the Latin word medium meaning middle or

• mass media

  Etymology The term mass media is derived from two Latin words Mass massa A larg

• medium

  Etymology The word medium originates from the Latin word medius which means middle

• amid

  Etymology The word amid has its roots in three distinct languages Old English on m

• intermediate

  Etymology 1590s From Latin intermedius intermediate middle from inter between

• mean

  Etymology Old English mǣne Proto Germanic mainiz Proto Indo European mei to think

• medal

  Etymology Old French medaille Latin medalia plural of medalium a coin box or case La

• medial

  Etymology The word medial comes from the Latin word medialis which means in the mi

• median

  Etymology The word median comes from the Latin medianus which means middle or in

• mediate

  Etymology The word mediate derives from the Latin verb mediare meaning to act as a

• medieval

  Etymology Latin mediaevalis French moyen âge Middle English medieval Meanin

• mediocre

  Etymology The word mediocre originates from the Latin word mediocris which means h

• Mediterranean

  Etymology Mediterranean comes from the Latin phrase mare mediterraneum meaning sea i

• medium

  Etymology The word medium originates from the Latin word medius which means middle

• meridian

  Etymology The word meridian comes from the Latin word meridiānus which is derived

• mesic

  Etymology Greek mesos middle ikos pertaining to Meaning Adjective Cha

• mesial

  Etymology The word mesial is derived from the Greek word mesos meaning middle Me

• meso

  Etymology The word meso is derived from the Ancient Greek word mésos which means

• meson

  Etymology The word meson originates from the Greek word mesos meaning middle Me

• Mesopotamia

  Etymology The term Mesopotamia is derived from two Greek words Meso μέσος

• Mesozoic

  Etymology Mesozoic is a term derived from Ancient Greek meso μέσος meaning

• mezzanine

  Etymology The word mezzanine derives from the Italian word mezzano which means midd

• mezzo

  Etymology Italian mezzo half middle Latin medius middle Origin The word

• mezzotint

  Etymology The term mezzotint is derived from the Italian phrase mezzo tinto which me

• middle

  Etymology The word middle comes from the Old English word middel which in turn is d

• Midgard

  Etymology Old Norse Miðgarðr Miðr middle center Garðr fence enclosure

• midriff

  Etymology Middle English mydref 13th century Old English middref 11th century Pro

• midst

  Etymology The word midst is derived from two Old English words Mid Meaning middle

• midwife

  Etymology Mid middle Middle period of pregnancy 4 5 months Wife Archaic term for

• milieu

  Etymology French milieu meaning middle surroundings Medieval Latin medius loc

• mizzen

  Etymology The word mizzen originates from the Old French word mizene which itself d

• moiety

  Etymology and Origin The word moiety comes from the Old French word moitié meaning

• mullion

  Etymology Old French moulon meaning vertical bar in a window Latin mullus mea

• spiritualist

  Etymology of Spiritualist The term spiritualist derives from the Latin word spiritus

• sensitive

  Etymology The word sensitive comes from the Latin word sentire meaning to feel or

• average

  Etymology Late Middle English from Old French averaige based on Medieval Latin averag

• vehicle

  Etymology Vehicle is derived from the Latin word vehiculum which means that which c

• specie

  Etymology The word specie derives from the Latin word species which means distinct

• tube

  Etymology The word tube comes from the Latin word tuba meaning trumpet The term w

• mail order

  Etymology and Meaning of Mail Order The term mail order originated during the mid 19t

• paper

  Etymology The word paper originates from the Coptic word papyrus which refers to a w

• substance

  Etymology The word substance is derived from the Latin word substantia which means

• cinema

  Etymology The word cinema is derived from the Greek word kinēma κίνημα mea