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Among - 4 dictionary results

a⋅mong

   [uh-muhng]
–preposition
1. in, into, or through the midst of; in association or connection with; surrounded by: He was among friends.
2. in the midst of, so as to influence: missionary work among the local people.
3. with a share for each of: Divide the cigars among you.
4. in the number, class, or group of; of or out of: That is among the things we must do.
5. by all or with the whole of; by most or with many of: popular among the people.
6. by the joint or reciprocal action of: Settle it among yourselves.
7. each with the other; mutually: They quarreled among themselves.
8. familiar to or characteristic of: a proverb among the Spanish.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME; OE amang, onmang for on gemang, on gemonge (dat. of gemong crowd, akin to mengan to mix) in (the) group (of); akin to mingle
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : Among
Spanish: entre, German: (mitten) unter, Japanese: ～の間に .
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a·mong     (ə-mŭng')  Pronunciation Key 
prep.  
  1. In the midst of; surrounded by: a pine tree among cedars.
  2. In the group, number, or class of: She is among the wealthy.
  3. In the company of; in association with: traveling among a group of tourists.
  4. By many or the entire number of; with many: a custom popular among the Greeks.
  5. By the joint action of: Among us, we will finish the job.
  6. With portions to each of: Distribute this among you.
  7. Each with the other: Don't fight among yourselves. See Usage Note at between.


[Middle English, from Old English āmang : ā, in; see a-2 + gemang, throng; see mag- in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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among 
O.E. on gemang "in a crowd." Collective prefix ge- dropped 12c. leaving onmong, amang, among. Amongst (c.1250) is same word + adverbial genitive and parasitic -t (see amid/amidst). It is well established in the south of England, but not much heard in the north. By similar evolutions, alongst also existed in M.E.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Among

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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