mid-1950
UK[ˌmɪd naɪnˌtiːn ˈfɪftiz]US[ˌmɪd naɪnˌtin ˈfɪftiz]
adj
Of, relating to, or characteristic of the middle part of the decade of the 1950s.
Morpheme Breakdown
mid
1950s
mid
middle
1950s
the decade from 1950 to 1959
Etymology
The term is a modern English compound formed by straightforward combination. The element 'mid' derives from the Proto-Germanic midja-, meaning "middle," a concept with deep Indo-European roots seen in Latin medius and Greek mesos. '1950s' is a cardinal number of Germanic origin, combined with the plural '-s' to denote a span of years. The compound follows a transparent and productive pattern in English for specifying a point within a named era, such as 'mid-century' or 'mid-July.' Its logic is purely chronological, literally denoting "the middle of the 1950s," and reflects the language's analytical tendency to create precise temporal descriptors through compounding.
Analysis
Structure: mid (middle) + 1950s (the decade from 1950 to 1959)
- mid: From Old English midd (middle, center). In this compound, it functions as a combining form meaning "middle of."
- 1950s: A numeral representing the years 1950-1959, with the plural suffix '-s' indicating the decade as a collective period.
Examples
The iconic designs of mid-1950s American automobiles featured prominent tailfins.
His research focuses on the political climate of the mid-1950s.
That musical style became popular around the mid-1950s.