# midsentence
## English
### Alternative forms

* mid-sentence

### Etymology

From mid- +‎ sentence.

### Adjective

midsentence (not comparable)
* Occurring in the middle of a sentence.
** 1998, Walter Kintsch, Comprehension: A Paradigm for Cognition, Cambridge, Cambs.: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 230:In neither case was there an effect on comprehension as measured by the subjects’ free recall. Subjects recalled as much with midsentence interruptions as with end-of-sentence interruptions as with no interruptions at all.
** 1999, David Zarefsky, “Presenting the Speech”, in Robert Alan Brookey, Annotated Instructor’s Manual for David Zarefsky’s Public Speaking: Strategies for Success, 2nd edition, Needham Heights, Mass.: Allyn & Bacon, →ISBN, part II (Annotated Text), part 4 (Style and Delivery of the Speech), page 287:Instead of pausing after each sentence, Dr. King stopped briefly after each refrain of “Let freedom ring,” building intensity and creating the musical effect of a crescendo. His midsentence pauses emphasized the repeating pattern in his examples and let the audience know what to expect next.
** 2002, Richard B[evan] Hays, “The God of Mercy Who Rescues Us from the Present Evil Age: Romans and Galatians”, in A. Andrew Das, Frank J. Matera, editors, The Forgotten God: Perspectives in Biblical Theology: Essays in Honor of Paul J. Achtemeier on the Occasion of his Seventy-fifth Birthday, Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, →ISBN, page 130:Paul carefully safeguards the priority of divine initiative over human efforts to come into relationship with God. Perhaps the most striking illustration of this is his midsentence self-correction in 4:9: “Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God . . .”
** 2004, Robert K. Tanenbaum, chapter 25, in Hoax, New York, N.Y.: Atria Books, →ISBN, page 531:“You again,” Karp growled. He gestured to Guma, making hand signals to get a trace going on the call. Guma quit his midsentence comeback aimed at Stupenagel and hurried from the room.
** 2018 January, Susan Mann, An Uncommon Honeymoon (A Librarian and the Spy Escapade), New York, N.Y.: Zebra Books, →ISBN, page 264:“Mr. Borovsky only makes deals through his—” Ovechkin broke off. Quinn’s brow lowered, puzzled by his midsentence stoppage.

### Adverb

midsentence (not comparable)
* In the middle of a sentence.
** 2001, Sherwyn P. Morreale, Brian H. Spitzberg, J. Kevin Barge, Human Communication: Motivation, Knowledge, & Skills, Annotated Instructor’s Edition, Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, →ISBN, page 265:“At least I believe in something! You’re nothing but a typical godless American with no values and . . .” Chad interrupted midsentence: “You don’t like the way I am? […]”
** 2016, John Clarkson, Bronx Requiem, New York, N.Y.: Minotaur Books, →ISBN, page 165:With Juju Jackson there was never a warning or an explanation. Jackson could pull a gun or a knife, shoot and maim someone midsentence during a conversation that seemed perfectly reasonable, even pleasant.
** 2018, Alan Weiss, “Forgiveness Is Not Easier Than Simply Appropriating Permission”, in Threescore and More: Applying the Assets of Maturity, Wisdom, and Experience for Personal and Professional Success, New York, N.Y.: Bibliomotion, Inc./Routledge, →ISBN, page 112:Stop someone midsentence if he or she is in your presence or write if he or she is not. These throwaway lines about age are detrimental and damaging.

### Noun

midsentence (uncountable)
* The middle of a sentence.
** 1990, Emily Ellison, The Picture Makers (G.K. Hall Large Print Book Series), Boston, Mass.: G. K. Hall & Co., published 1991, →ISBN, page 142:I mean this man starts his day with both feet moving, without a dab of anxiety, with him saying, “Okay, ready!” He can fall asleep in midsentence, in his midsentence, and then go without a toss or a tumble or a single concern for the next seven hours.
** 2003, John Lescroart, The First Law, New York, N.Y.: Dutton, →ISBN, page 190:He talked into the receiver. “Sure, I read all about it this morning. I wondered whether—” As he spoke, he reached out and pushed down on the button, breaking the connection in his midsentence.
** 2007 April 4, Alan Riding, “New Work From a Writer Who Died in the Holocaust”, in New York Times‎:But the narrative broke off in midsentence.
** 2007 October 11, Linda Greenhouse, “Case of Texas Murderer Engrosses Supreme Court”, in New York Times‎:Chief Justice Rehnquist was famous for cutting off lawyers in midsentence, even midsyllable, as soon as the red light on the lectern came on to signal that time was up.
** 2010, Anita Obermeier, “The Rhetoric of Symbolism: The Grail of Fertility and Sterility”, in Georgiana Donavin, Anita Obermeier, editors, Romance and Rhetoric: Essays in Honour of Dhira B. Mahoney (Disputatio; 19), Turnhout: Brepols Publishers n.v., →ISBN, section “Arthurian Literature: Composition and Production”, footnote 42, page 203:Gerbert de Montreuil picks up in the midsentence of the Second Continuation, and Manessier writes the Third Continuation.
** 2019, Stanley Corngold, “Philosophy as Psychology: Discovering the Mind, Volume 1, Kant, Goethe, and Hegel”, in Walter Kaufmann: Philosopher, Humanist, Heretic, Princeton, N.J., Woodstock, Oxon: Princeton University Press, →ISBN:He died, in the midsentence of his life, as these books were being published.