medi

middle

Spelled medi · medius 'middle, in the middle'

Latin medius marks the middle: a median occupies it, a mediator stands between sides, and medieval names the Middle Ages.

Words built from it

medium — a means or material through which something is expressed or transmitted
Latin medium (middle, intervening substance), from medius (middle) → English medium
median — the middle value in an ordered set
Latin medius (middle) → medianus (in the middle) → median
mediate — to help opposing sides reach an agreement
Latin medius (middle) → Late Latin mediare (come between) → mediatus → mediate
mediocre — only average in quality; not very good
Latin medius (middle) + ocris (mountain, height) → mediocris (moderate) → French médiocre → mediocre
medieval — relating to the Middle Ages
Latin medius (middle) + aevum (age) + -al (relating to) → medieval
intermediate — between two stages, levels, or positions
Latin inter- (between) + medius (middle) → Medieval Latin intermediatus → intermediate
immediate — happening without delay; having nothing in between
Latin in- (not), becoming im-, + mediatus (intervening), from medius (middle) → Late Latin immediatus → immediate
Mediterranean — relating to the sea between southern Europe and northern Africa, or its surrounding region
Latin medius (middle) + terra (land) → mediterraneus (inland, in the middle of land) → Mediterranean

medicine — Belongs to the Latin mederi family, meaning 'heal,' rather than medius, 'middle.'
meditation — Comes from Latin meditari, 'think over or practice,' rather than medius, 'middle.'