middling etymology

Etymology:

The word "middling" originated in Old English as "middel" or "medle," meaning "middle" or "moderate." It is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*medhyo-," which also gave rise to words like "media" and "mediator."

Meaning:

• Adjective:
  • Of moderate quality or size; neither very good nor very bad.
  • Of an intermediate level or degree.
• Noun:
  • A person or thing that is neither very good nor very bad.
  • A person of the middle class.

Origin:

The word "middling" is believed to have emerged in the late 15th century. It initially meant "of moderate size or quantity" and was often used to describe land or possessions.

Over time, the meaning of "middling" broadened to encompass its current sense of "neither good nor bad." It was also used to describe people of the middle class, who were neither wealthy nor impoverished.

The term "middling class" became particularly prominent during the 19th century, reflecting the growing importance of the middle class in society.

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