Middle
/ˈmɪd.əl/noun
The central part of something; equally distant from the ends or extremes.
Did you know?Middle descends from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “middle,” which also gave English words like *medial* and *median*—proof that the language of balance is ancient.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*medhyo-
“middle, in the middle”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*midjaz
“middle”
Old English
OE
middel
“the middle part; the center”
Middle English
ME
middel
“middle, central”
Modern English
English
middle
“the central part of something; equally distant from the ends or extremes”