amongst English · revision 6077

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1250}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈmʌŋst/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English amonges, from [[among]] with the adverbial genitive [[-s]] or -es.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) The final -t, unetymological, appeared in the 16th century, probably by association with superlatives in -st and -est, as in [[amidst]] and [[against]];^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Barnhart also allows that it was added for ease of articulation, as in [[betwixt]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Amonges, in the senses of among: before 1250 in Barnhart, the mid-13th century in Etymonline, about 1250 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The OED notes that amongst is less usual than among in the primary local sense, “in the midst of”.^(OED 1989) It shares all the senses of among.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989) The COED labels it chiefly British,^(COED 2004) and Collins, the LDOCE, MWU and Chambers give it as an alternative form of among.^(Collins 2023)^(LDOCE 2009)^(MWU 2024)^(Chambers 2008) In Oxfordshire dialect ''amongst the middlins'' meant not in very good health.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1250 – amonges.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 16th century – the ending -st.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # ''(chiefly Brit.)'' [[among|alt=Among]]: in the midst of, in the group of, or shared between.^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[among]]

+ * [[amidst]]

+ * [[against]]

+ * [[betwixt]]

+ * [[whilst]]

+ * [[mingle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}