Amidst

Amidst \A*midst"\, Amid \A*mid"\, prep. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on
   midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle.
   The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the
   genitive; the t is a later addition, as in whilst, amongst,
   alongst. See {Mid}.]
   In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by;
   among. "This fair tree amidst the garden." "Unseen amid the
   throng." "Amidst thick clouds." --Milton. "Amidst
   acclamations." "Amidst the splendor and festivity of a
   court." --Macaulay.
   [1913 Webster]

         But rather famish them amid their plenty. --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

   Syn: {Amidst}, {Among}.

   Usage: These words differ to some extent from each other, as
          will be seen from their etymology. Amidst denotes in
          the midst or middle of, and hence surrounded by; as,
          this work was written amidst many interruptions. Among
          denotes a mingling or intermixing with distinct or
          separable objects; as, "He fell among thieves."
          "Blessed art thou among women." Hence, we say, among
          the moderns, among the ancients, among the thickest of
          trees, among these considerations, among the reasons I
          have to offer. Amid and amidst are commonly used when
          the idea of separate or distinguishable objects is not
          prominent. Hence, we say, they kept on amidst the
          storm, amidst the gloom, he was sinking amidst the
          waves, he persevered amidst many difficulties; in none
          of which cases could among be used. In like manner,
          Milton speaks of Abdiel,

                The seraph Abdiel, faithful found;
                Among the faithless faithful only he,
          [1913 Webster] because he was then considered as one
          of the angels. But when the poet adds,

                From amidst them forth he passed,
          [1913 Webster] we have rather the idea of the angels
          as a collective body.

                Those squalid cabins and uncleared woods amidst
                which he was born.                --Macaulay.
          [1913 Webster]