Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Medium?

\Me"di*um\, n.; pl. L. {Media}, {E}. {Mediums}. [L. medium the middle, fr. medius middle. See {Mid}, and cf. {Medius}.] 1. That which lies in the middle, or between other things; intervening body or quantity. Hence, specifically: (a) Middle place or degree; mean. The just medium . . . lies between pride and abjection. --L'Estrange. (b) (Math.) See {Mean}. (c) (Logic) The mean or middle term of a syllogism; that by which the extremes are brought into connection. 2. A substance through which an effect is transmitted from one thing to another; as, air is the common medium of sound. Hence: The condition upon which any event or action occurs; necessary means of motion or action; that through or by which anything is accomplished, conveyed, or carried on; specifically, in animal magnetism, spiritualism, etc., a person through whom the action of another being is said to be manifested and transmitted. Whether any other liquors, being made mediums, cause a diversity of sound from water, it may be tried. --Bacon. I must bring together All these extremes; and must remove all mediums. --Denham. 3. An average. [R.] A medium of six years of war, and six years of peace. --Burke. 4. A trade name for printing and writing paper of certain sizes. See {Paper}. 5. (Paint.) The liquid vehicle with which dry colors are ground and prepared for application. {Circulating medium}, a current medium of exchange, whether coin, bank notes, or government notes. {Ethereal medium} (Physics), the ether. {Medium of exchange}, that which is used for effecting an exchange of commodities -- money or current representatives of money.
\Me"di*um\, a. Having a middle position or degree; mean; intermediate; medial; as, a horse of medium size; a decoction of medium strength.