unity English · revision 6414

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300|origins=la unus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈjuːnɪti/, /-nə-/ ''(UK)''; /ˈjunɪti/, /-nə-/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English unite, [[bor|xno|unite]], Old French [[m|fro|unité|t=uniqueness, oneness]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[la|ūnitās|t=oneness, sameness, agreement]], from [[m|la|ūnus|t=one]] (see [[one]]),^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from PIE [[ine-pro|*óynos|alt=*oi-no-|t=one]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The state of being one, at first in theology of the persons of the Trinity: before 1300 in the OED, about 1300 in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Agreement of mind, feeling or purpose is from about 1325.^(OED 1989) The general sense, the harmonious combination of parts into a whole, is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) The number one in mathematics is from 1570.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) A single complete thing is from 1587.^(OED 1989) The ''unities'' of drama, of action, time and place, derive from Aristotle.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – oneness.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1325 – agreement.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – harmony of parts.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1570 – the number one.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The state of being united or joined as a whole.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Agreement, harmony or solidarity: ''national unity''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' The number one.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The harmonious arrangement of parts in a work of art.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nonunity]]

+ * [[triunity]]

+ * [[root of unity]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[unique]]

+ * [[unison]]

+ * [[unite]]

+ * [[union]]

+ * [[unit]]

+ * [[one]]

+ * [[universe]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}