Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Medium
Me′di-um
,Noun.
pl. L.
Media
(#)
, E
. Mediums
(#)
. 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 soundHence:
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
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
,Adj.
Having a middle position or degree; mean; intermediate; medial;
as, a horse of
medium
size; a decoction of medium
strength.Webster 1828 Edition
Medium
ME'DIUM
,Noun.
1.
In logic, the mean or middle term of a syllogism, or the middle term in an argument, being the reason why a thing is affirmed or denied.Nothing can be honorable that violates moral principle.
Dueling violates moral principle.
Therefore dueling is not honorable.
Here the second term is the medium, mean, or middle term.
2.
Arithmetical medium, that which is equally distant from each extreme, or which exceeds the lesser extreme as much as it is exceeded by the greater, in respect of quantity, not of proportion. Thus, 9 is a medium between 6 and 12.3.
Geometrical medium, is that wherein the same ratio is preserved between the first and second terms, as between the second and third. Thus, 6 is a geometrical medium between 4 and 9.In the three last senses or applications, mean is more generally used for medium.
4.
The means or instrument by which any thing is accomplished, conveyed or carried on. Thus money is the medium of commerce; coin is the common medium of trade among all civilized nations, but wampum is the medium of trade among the Indian tribes, and bills of credit or bank notes are often used as mediums of trade in the place of gold and silver. Intelligence is communicated through the medium of the press.5.
The middle place or degree; the mean. The just medium of this case lies between pride and abjection.
6.
A kind of printing paper of middle size.