> From: Perry Wagle <wagle@mac.com>
> 
> In xemacs, if I double click on a word, the word is highlighted.  If
> I then press control-s for search, and click the middle mouse button
> *without moving the mouse*, I will paste that word into the search 
> string, and all is good.
> 
> Emacs, on the other hand, does not support this idiom.  For some 
> reason, the middle mouse button *ABORTS* the search mode, and then 
> pastes the word under the mouse.  Why would you want that?

(You want C-w instead of middle mouse)

Try this idiom:

Put the cursor at the beginning of the work you want to search for
C-s C-w (more C-w 's paste more words into the search string
C-s ...