identity
UK[aɪˈden.tə.ti]US[aɪˈden.t̬ə.t̬i]
n
The fact of being who or what a person or thing is
n
The characteristics, feelings, or beliefs that make a person or group different from others
n
A close similarity or affinity
Morpheme Breakdown
ident
ity
ident
same
ity
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'identity' originates from the Late Latin 'identitas', which was derived from the classical Latin adjective 'idem', meaning 'the same'. This root 'idem' is itself a contraction of 'is' (he, that) and the suffix '-dem', reinforcing the notion of sameness. The suffix '-ity', indicating a state or quality, was appended to form a noun describing the condition of being the same. Over time, the meaning evolved from a purely philosophical concept of absolute sameness to encompass the modern psychological and social understanding of a person's unique and continuous self, paradoxically built on the idea of remaining the same entity over time.
Analysis
Structure: ident (same) + ity (noun suffix)
- ident: From Latin 'idem' meaning 'the same'. Functions as the core root conveying the concept of sameness.
- ity: A suffix of Latin origin ('-itas') used to form nouns expressing a state or condition.
Examples
The witness was asked to confirm the identity of the suspect.
Moving to a new country made her question her cultural identity.
There is a clear identity of interests between the two companies on this issue.