amid

Pronunciation: /əˈmɪd/ (American English)

Origin: Old English "on middan" meaning "in the middle"

Part of Speech: preposition, adverb

Meanings:

1. In the middle of; surrounded by
2. During; in the course of
3. In an atmosphere or context of

Example Sentences:

1. The small cottage stood amid a cluster of towering oak trees.
2. She remained calm amid the chaos of the emergency room.
3. The team celebrated their victory amid cheers from the crowd.

Related Words:

• Forms: amidst (alternative spelling)
• Synonyms: among, between, in the midst of, surrounded by

Memorization Trick: Think of "amid" as "A MID" - you're in the MIDdle of something, surrounded on All sides.

Additional Notes:

• "Amid" is often used in more formal or literary contexts.
• It can be used interchangeably with "amidst" in most cases, though "amid" is more common in American English.