middling

middling Definition

mid·dling (mid′liŋ)

adjective

of middle size, quality, grade, etc.; medium; ordinary; mediocre

Etymology: mid + -ling

adverb

Informal fairly; moderately; somewhat

noun

middling Synonyms

modif.

mediocre, ordinary, average, fair-to-middling; see common 1, conventional 1, 3, traditional 2.
moderately good, ordinary, average; see fair 2.

middling Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

sort: The idea that debt might result from moral failings features prominently in Margaret Hunt's study of ' the middling sort ' .
rank: The distribution of funeral doles was becoming more common among the middling ranks of society in the sixteenth century.
class: The rich and the aspiring middling classes of eighteenth century Britain were able to buy a larger choice of consumer goods than ever before.
quality: The brown and middling qualities of West Indian sugar comprised fully three fourths of the entire import into the country.
par: A variety of squeeze in a. Olson on a do with directv a middling par.
one: Some agents valued much higher than others ( almost 8 % spread ), so went with one of the middling ones.

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