A medium of six years of war, and six years of peace.
Burke.
4. A trade name for printing and writing paper of certain sizes. See
Paper.
5. (Paint.) The liquid vehicle with which dry colors are ground and
prepared for application.
Circulating medium, a current medium of exchange, whether coin, bank
notes, or government notes. -- Ethereal medium (Physics), the ether. --
Medium of exchange, that which is used for effecting an exchange of
commodities -- money or current representatives of money.
Me"di*um, a. Having a middle position or degree; mean; intermediate;
medial; as, a horse of medium size; a decoction of medium strength.
Me"di*um-sized` (?), a. Having a medium size; as, a medium-sized man.
||Me"di*us (?), n.; pl. Medii (#). [NL., fr. L. medius middle. See
||Medium.] (Anat.) The third or middle finger; the third digit, or that
||which corresponds to it.
Med"lar (?), n. [OE. medler medlar tree, OF. meslier, F. néflier, L.
mespilum, mespilus, Gr. &?;, &?;. Cf. Naseberry.] A tree of the genus
Mespilus (M. Germanica); also, the fruit of the tree. The fruit is
something like a small apple, but has a bony endocarp. When first
gathered the flesh is hard and austere, and it is not eaten until it
has begun to decay.
Japan medlar (Bot.), the loquat. See Loquat. -- Neapolitan medlar
(Bot.), a kind of thorn tree (Cratægus Azarolus); also, its fruit.
Med"le (?), v. t. [See Meddle.] To mix; to mingle; to meddle. [Written
also medly.] [Obs.] Chaucer.
Med"ley (?), n.; pl. Medleys (#). [OE. medlee, OF. meslée, medlée,
mellée, F. mêlée. See Meddle, and cf. MelÉe, Mellay.] 1. A mixture; a
mingled and confused mass of ingredients, usually inharmonious; a
jumble; a hodgepodge; -- often used contemptuously.
This medley of philosophy and war.
Addison.
Love is a medley of endearments, jars, Suspicions, reconcilements,
wars.
W. Walsh.
2. The confusion of a hand to hand battle; a brisk, hand to hand
engagement; a mêlée. [Obs.] Holland.
3. (Mus.) A composition of passages detached from several different
compositions; a potpourri.
Medley is usually applied to vocal, potpourri to instrumental,
compositions.