> as lemmas

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 250 Þe middel wei of mesure is eauer guldene.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. l. 17 (MED) I wolde go the middel weie And wryte a bok betwen the tweie.

1581 J. Studley tr. Seneca Hercules Oetæus ii, in T. Newton et al. tr. Seneca 10 Trag. f. 199 Who so he is that shunnes the middle waye, Shall neuer fynd fast footing any where.

1600 W. Cornwallis Ess. I. xxiii. sig. M7 Affectation begets Extremities: Man is allowed onely the middle way, he strayeth when he affects.

a1642 J. Suckling Goblins v. 49 in Fragmenta Aurea (1646) The secret of the prison-house shall out I sweare. I'le set all first on fire, For middle waies to such an end are dull.

1702 R. Steele Funeral iv. 50 There's no Middle way, I must Expose her to make a Re-union Impracticable.

1725 I. Watts Logick ii. v. §2 Where two extremes are proposed..and neither of them has certain and convincing evidence, it is generally safest to take the middle way.

1759 S. Fielding Hist. Countess of Dellwyn I. i. xiv. 140 The Third is a Kind of a middle Way between both; which, according as it is managed, may be turned to any Purpose.

1852 H. W. Dulcken tr. I. L. Pfeiffer Visit Holy Land, Egypt, & Italy iii. 60 In all things the middle way is the safest.

1884 Chicago Advance 11 Dec. They now sought a middle way between Presbyterianism and Congregationalism.

1943 A. M. Lindbergh Diary 29 Mar. in War within & Without (1980) 336 Atmosphere very bohemian and fast furious arguments between Sidney Hook and Freda. He evidently believes in ‘the middle way’ and defends his belief in it.

1986 L. Garfield December Rose vi. 39 There was no middle way with Inspector Creaker. He was a man with no twilight in his soul.