mid-sized
Meaning
Of a medium size; neither large nor small.
Structure
Usage
The company specializes in manufacturing mid-sized family sedans.
They moved from a large corporation to a more agile, mid-sized firm.
The apartment is perfect for a mid-sized dog.
Etymology
The word "mid-sized" is a modern English compound adjective formed by combining the native English element "mid," derived from the Proto-Germanic medjaz meaning "middle," with the adjective "sized," which originates from the noun "size." The noun "size" entered English from Old French sise, meaning "an ordinance to fix the amount of a payment or tax," which later evolved to mean "a fixed standard for dimensions." The compound logically and transparently denotes something that has a size which is in the middle range, effectively bridging the ancient concept of a central point with the later, more abstract notion of measured dimensions to describe scale in commerce and industry.
Analysis
- mid: From Old English midd (middle, central). In this compound, it functions as a combining form meaning "middle" or "medium." - sized: From the noun size (itself from Old French sise) combined with the past participle suffix -ed. In this compound, it functions as an adjective-forming element meaning "having a (specified) size."