amellprep.adv.

Etymology: < early Scandinavian (specifically East Norse; compare the Swedish and Danish forms below), probably reflecting a variety of different formations. In Scandinavian languages a number of different compound prepositions and adverbs are attested, in the same senses, showing various constructions with the cognates of on prep. or in prep. as first element, and with the dative singular and dative plural of the cognate of middle n. (in reflexes of forms both with and without Germanic -j- ) as second element. With the α. forms compare: (i) Old Icelandic í milli , Old Swedish i mälle , Old Danish imællæ < the respective cognates of in prep. + the dative singular of the respective cognates of middle n.; (ii) Old Icelandic í millum , Old Swedish i mällan , e mällan , i mällin , i mällom (Swedish emellan ), Old Danish imællin (Danish imellem ) < the respective cognates of in prep. + the dative plural of the respective cognates of middle n. With the β. forms compare: (iii) Old Icelandic á milli < á on (see on prep.) + milli , dative singular of meðal middle n.; (iv) Old Icelandic á millum < á on (see on prep.) + millum , dative plural of meðal middle n.Later forms with initial a may reflect phonetic reduction of the unstressed first element of the compound to schwa, rather than showing continuity with the Middle English form amell. Forms with initial o show vowel rounding.