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among - 4 dictionary results

a⋅mong

  [uh-muhng]
Use among in a Sentence
–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

Synonyms:
Among and between suggest a relationship that is not necessarily physical: among the crowd; between two pillars; They don't have much sense among them. Between you and me, I don't like any of them. Amid, a more literary word, implies being in the middle of a place or surrounded by something: to stand amid ruins.

Usage note:
See between.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To among
a·mong   (ə-mŭng')   
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 © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Among

A*mong"\, Amongst \A*mongst"\, prep. [OE. amongist, amonges, amonge, among, AS. onmang, ongemang, gemang, in a crowd or mixture. For the ending -st see Amidst. See Mingle.]

1. Mixed or mingled; surrounded by.

They heard, And from his presence hid themselves among The thickest trees. --Milton.

2. Conjoined, or associated with, or making part of the number of; in the number or class of.

Blessed art thou among women. --Luke i. 28.

3. Expressing a relation of dispersion, distribution, etc.; also, a relation of reciprocal action.

What news among the merchants? --Shak.

Human sacrifices were practiced among them. --Hume.

Divide that gold amongst you. --Marlowe.

Whether they quarreled among themselves, or with their neighbors. --Addison.

Syn: Amidst; between. See Amidst, Between.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : among
Spanish: entre,
German: (mitten) unter,
Japanese: ～の間に .
More Translations »

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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