Middling

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈmɪdlɪŋ/

Definitions

1. Being neither high nor low in quality, but somewhere in the middle ; serving as a moderate or intermediate level between extremes
2. Characterizing something of fair or moderate standard, not outstanding but acceptable ; functioning as a middle agent or occupying a central role
3. Describing a medium or modest degree of excellence or effectiveness ; positioned centrally or acting as a go-between in a process or group

Etymology: "Middling" is built from "middle" plus the suffix "-ing," though the exact path is not settled. The noun is probably formed from "middle" with "-ing," and the adjective most likely developed from that noun, with the adverb "middlingly" later following from the adjective. The suffix is a familiar one in English, used to turn many words into nouns and adjectives, so the word's shape is straightforward even if its earliest steps are not fully documented. The most interesting part of the word is the way its meaning settled into a judgment on quality. Used as an adjective, it describes something neither high nor low in standard: a middling harvest, a middling restaurant, a middling student. The sense is mildly lukewarm, a fair-to-average verdict rather than a condemnation, and that quiet hedge is what keeps the word in everyday use.

Synonyms: average, mediocre, moderate, ordinary, common

Antonyms: exceptional, outstanding, superior, extraordinary, remarkable