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.
