unanimity
Meaning
Complete agreement among a group of people.
Structure
Usage
The committee reached its decision with surprising unanimity.
There was virtual unanimity among the experts on the cause of the problem.
A rare unanimity in the council allowed the new policy to pass swiftly.
Etymology
The word 'unanimity' has a clear and logical construction that directly reflects its modern meaning. It originates from the Latin phrase 'ūnus animus', literally meaning 'one mind'. The Latin 'ūnus' (one) and 'animus' (mind, spirit) were combined into the late Latin term 'unanimitas', denoting a state of shared feeling or agreement. This concept was adopted into Middle English via Old French. Thus, the literal 'one-mindedness' of its components evolved seamlessly into the modern abstract noun signifying complete agreement or consensus.
Analysis
un: From Latin 'ūnus', meaning 'one'. It functions as a root indicating singularity or oneness. anim: From Latin 'animus', meaning 'mind, spirit, feeling'. It functions as a root indicating the mind or spirit. ity: A suffix of Latin origin ('-itas') used to form abstract nouns expressing a state or condition.