From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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.
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The just medium . . . lies between pride and
abjection. --L'Estrange.
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(b) (Math.) See {Mean}.
(c) (Logic) The mean or middle term of a syllogism; that
by which the extremes are brought into connection.
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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.
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Whether any other liquors, being made mediums, cause
a diversity of sound from water, it may be tried.
--Bacon.
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I must bring together
All these extremes; and must remove all mediums.
--Denham.
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3. An average. [R.]
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A medium of six years of war, and six years of
peace. --Burke.
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4. A trade name for printing and writing paper of certain
sizes. See {Paper}.
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5. (Paint.) The liquid vehicle with which dry colors are
ground and prepared for application.
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6. (Microbiology) A source of nutrients in which a
microorganism is placed to permit its growth, cause it to
produce substances, or observe its activity under defined
conditions; also called {culture medium} or {growth
medium}. The medium is usually a solution of nutrients in
water, or a similar solution solidified with gelatin or
agar.
[PJC]
7. A means of transmission of news, advertising, or other
messages from an information source to the public, also
called a {news medium}, such as a newspaper or radio; used
mostly in the plural form, i. e. {news media} or {media}.
See 1st {media}[2].
[PJC]
{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.
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