identities

Variant of identity

identity definition

iden·tity (ī den′tə tē)

noun pl. identities -·ties

  1. the condition or fact of being the same or exactly alike; sameness; oneness groups united by identity of interests
    1. the condition or fact of being a specific person or thing; individuality
    2. the characteristics and qualities of a person, considered collectively and regarded as essential to that person's self-awareness
    3. the condition of being the same as a person or thing described or claimed
  3. Math. an equation which is true for all permissible sets of values of the variables which appear in it: Ex.: x - y= (x + y) (x - y)

Etymology: Fr identité < LL identitas, coined (prob. infl. by LL essentitas, essence) < L idem, the same, akin to Sans idám, the same < IE base *e-, *ei-, he, that > Sans ayám, OIr ē, Goth is, he

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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