among
UK[əˈmʌŋ]US[əˈmʌŋ]
prep
Surrounded by or in the company of (several other people or things).
prep
Being a member or members of (a larger set).
prep
Occurring in or shared by (some members of a group).
prep
Indicating a division, choice, or differentiation involving three or more participants.
Etymology
The word 'among' originates from Old English 'onmang', a compound of 'on' (in) and the dative form of 'gemang', meaning "a crowd, multitude". The root 'gemang' is related to the concept of mixing or mingling. Over time, 'onmang' evolved through Middle English forms like 'amang' and 'amonges', gradually shedding its initial sense of physical mingling within a group to acquire its current, more abstract prepositional functions. This journey reflects a shift from a concrete image of being in a mixed crowd to denoting inclusion, distribution, or relationship within a collective.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form derived from Old English. It is not productively segmentable into distinct, meaningful morphemes in modern English.
Examples
She felt comfortable among friends.
The prize money was divided among the three winners.
This issue is among the most important we will discuss.