▪ I. unite, n. Numism.
(ˈjuːnaɪt, juːˈnaɪt)
Also unit.
[f. pa. pple. of unite v. Cf. unity2.
Named in allusion to the Union of the Crowns under James I, coins of the original issue bearing on the obverse the inscription Faciam eos in gentem unam (Ezek. xxxvii. 22). The β-form is prob. due to asimilation with unit. n.]
An English gold coin first issued by James I in 1604, originally current at the value of 20 shillings, and raised in 1611 to 22 shillings. Cf. broad n. 4, broad-piece, and Jacobus.
Different issues of this coin were denominated the laurel (laurel n. 4) and the sceptre (sceptre n. 3) after the distinguishing feature of each, and these terms were also used attrib. with unite.
| α 1604 Proclam. Coynes 16 Nov., One piece of Gold of the value of Twentie shillings sterling, to be called The Vnite, stamped on the one side with our Picture formerly vsed, with this Stile [etc.]. 1611 Proclam. Alteration Prices of Gold 23 Nov., The piece of Gold called the Vnite [to be current] at xxij.s. 1612 R. Ricart Maire of Bristowe's Kal. (Camden) 65 In which purse were 100 vnites of gould, amountinge to the summe of 110li. 1726 S. M. Leake Nummi Brit. Hist. 90 A Pound weight of Crown Gold 22 Carracts fine, and two Carracts Allay into 41 l, by Tale, to wit, into Unites at 20 s. 1763 [see broad n. 4]. 1898 Gertr. B. Rawlings Story Brit. Coinage 77 A triple unite was also coined, but at the Oxford mint only. |
| β 1736 M. Folkes Gold Coins 6, 2 Ja. 1. Sovereign or Units, vulgarly called Scepters. 1853 Humphreys Coin-Coll. Man. II. 471 The principal gold coins in the early part of the reign [of Charles I] were—the unit, or broad-piece (20 shillings), with its half and quarter. |
† b. As the name proposed for certain silver coins (see quots.). Obs.
| 1691 Locke Lower. Interest Wks. 1714 II. 79 He proposes that his Silver Vnite..should go for 75 Pence. 1695 Lowndes Rep. Ess. Amend. Silver Coins 62 One Piece which may be called the Sceptre or the Silver-Unite. |
▪ II. † unite, pa. pple. and ppl. a. Obs.
[ad. late L. ūnīt-us (whence also It. unito, Sp. and Pg. unido, F. uni), pa. pple. of L. ūnīre: see the vb.]
Combined or formed into one; conjoint, united. (Latterly Sc.)
| 1422 Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 143 By lewte and trowthe and feyth the Pepill byth vnyette [sic], Citteis fulfillid, and mayntenyd lordshuppis. 1460 Rolls of Parlt. V. 381/2 Londes and Tenementes..that were unyte or annexed to the same Duchie. 1542 Hen. VIII Declar. Scots in Compl. Scot. 199 Two or mo of one astate might be rulers in one countrie vnite as this Isle is. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. IV, 2 By the whiche mariage..the redde Rose was vnite and joyned with the white Rose. 1605 Play of Stucley 1508 in Simpson Sch. Shaks. (1878) I. 219 That Spain and Portingale shall be unite. 1647 H. More Song of Soul ii. App. lxxxiii, A cluster of small starres unite These Meteors some do deem. 1693 Stair Inst. ii. ii. §18. 201 When Lands are rightly Unite or Erected in Barronies. 1721 Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 595 The body of the ministers are joint and unite. |
b. In attributive use.
| 1613 Heywood Silver Age iii. i, My charm, Which gods and devils gave unite consent To be infract. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iv. 133 [He] reduced all the Empire of Greece, to a vnite tranquilitie. 1675 R. Fleming Short Acc. Doctr. Rom. Ch. 2 A continual visibility of the Church, as an unite body. |
▪ III. unite, v.
(juːˈnaɪt)
Also 5–6 unyte.
[f. ūnīt-, ppl. stem of post-Aug. L. ūnīre, to join together, make one, f. ūnus one. Cf. une v., uny v.]
1. trans. To combine or join (one or more things) to or with another or others, to bring or put together (separate or divided things), so as to form one connected or contiguous whole; to form or incorporate into one body or mass; to make or cause to be one: a. In non-physical connexion or union.
In early examples used as pa. tense and pple. active without final -d: cf. prec.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) VI. 289 Egberte prevaylynge in that batelle, unyte to his realme the realmes of the marches. 1513 Douglas æneis x. Prol. 26 Set our natur God hes to hym vnyte. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 16 That he take no counsel to vnite Thempire to his house and posteritie. c 1630 Milton At a Solemn Music 27 Till God ere long To his celestial consort us unite, To live with him. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xix. 96 Where the publique and private interest are most closely united. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. General, By retaining only those Qualities, and uniting them into one Idea, they have another, more general Idea. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xxviii. III. 73 A wealthy and noble senator, who united the sacred characters of pontiff and augur, with the civil dignities of proconsul of Africa. 1825 Scott Betrothed xix, Before the fian{cced}ailles had united his troth with that of Eveline Berenger. 1839 Murchison Silur. Syst. i. xxvi. 333, I attribute the discrepancy to my having united observations made on both flanks of the river. 1882 Mrs. Pitman Mission L. Greece & Pal. 174 The strongest wish of the Cretans is that they should be united to Greece. |
| absol. 1713 Blackmore Creation vii. 273 The mind..does distinguish here, and there unite. |
| refl. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xviii, Here our story unites itself with that part of the narrative which [etc.]. |
b. In physical connexion or union.
In quot. 1602 in figurative context.
| 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iv. i. 222 Our Peace will (like a broken Limbe vnited) Grow stronger. 1602 Marston Antonio's Rev. v. i, Be gratious, observation, to our sceane, For now the plot unites his scattred limbes. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 23 May 1645, The whole Chapell..and roofe are full of precious stones united with the mouldings. 1738 Gray Tasso 61 The parent sun's warm powers..In one rich mass unite the precious store. 1788 Sir J. Reynolds Disc. (1789) 22 Much smoothness, and uniting the colours, is apt to produce heaviness. 1800 tr. Lagrange's Chem. II. 46 A salt which crystallizes in small needles united together. 1846 F. Brittan tr. Malgaigne's Man. Oper. Surg. 244 Sanson made his incision.., and united the wound from before backwards. 1867 Pitt-Rivers Evol. Culture (1906) 67 A..breast-piece of armour..composed of seals' teeth, set like scales, and united with string. |
| refl. 1788 Lemprière Classical Dict. s.v. Cælus, Saturn..deprived his father of the organs of generation, as he was going to unite himself to Terra. |
c. To combine or amalgamate into one body; to bring together or consolidate (an army).
| 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, iv. i. 164 Vnite Your Troopes of horsemen, with his Bands of foote. 1599 Hakluyt Voy. II. 69 The English and French, with forces and mindes vnited, sayled ouer into Africa. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. viii. §153 All those forces..being united with Manchester. Ibid., The King..not believing that the enemy could be so soon united. 1802 James Milit. Dict. s.v. Battle, You should unite all your force, examine the advantage of the ground [etc.]. 1840 Thirlwall Greece VII. 369 [If] the forces of Greece..had been united and well directed. |
d. To join or clasp (hands), esp. in the marriage ceremony. (Cf. 2 b.)
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. iii. ii. 170 Since..Hymen did our hands Vnite comutuall, in most sacred Bands. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam v. xlviii, Now unite Thine hand with mine. 1820 Scott Monast. xxxvii, A house of the village, where next day their hands were united by the Protestant preacher. |
e. Horsemanship. To cause (a horse) to move with the hind- and fore-quarters in union or agreement. (Cf. 5 d, union n.1 2 c, and F. unir.)
| 1884 E. L. Anderson Mod. Horsem. 110 To unite a horse at a walk, the rider will press his legs against the sides of the animal, and, carrying back the forces of the forehand, prevent an increase of the speed by a corresponding operation of the hand. |
2. To make one in feeling or thought; to cause to agree; to combine or join (persons) together in action or interest, or for some special purpose.
| 1547 J. Harrison Exhort. Scottes h iv b, Remember (I besech you..) how that by this calling of vs into this vnitie,..he woulde also vnite & ioyne vs in one religion. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Vnitas, In vnitatem venire, Plin., to be vnited:..to be no more at variance. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, i. i. 23 If Simpathy of Loue vnite our thoughts. 1599 [see 1 c]. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. viii. §84 A general who might unite all those northern counties in his service. 1649 Nicholas Papers (Camden) 155 The meanes to unite the heartes of all the sober Royalysts. 1709 Prideaux Lett. (Camden) 202 His interest with the northern protestants may be of great use to unite them with the Church of England. 1791 Cowper Odyss. xxiv. 567 Let mutual amity..Unite them, and let wealth and peace abound. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam xii. xxiii, The fond and long embrace which did their hearts unite. 1857 Buckle Civiliz. I. xii. 661 Men of all tastes..were on this point united as by a common bond. |
| refl. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. x. §1 This was the cause of mens vniting themselues at the first in politique societies. 1648 Milton Ps. lxxxiii. 19 Themselves against thee they unite And in firm union bind. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey) s.v. Province, Provinces..that made a firm Alliance{ddd}by which they united themselves, so as never to be divided. |
b. To join (persons) in marriage. Also refl.
| 1728 Chambers Cycl., Marriage, a..Contract, by which a Man is join'd and united to a Woman. 1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus lxiv. 21 Then did a father agree Peleus with Thetis unite him. 1882 M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal II. vi. 119 She wants to see the two people she loves best on earth united. |
3. Of persons (or things): To have, possess, or exhibit (qualities, etc.) in union or combination; to combine (features usually regarded as distinct).
| 1796 H. Hunter tr. St.-Pierre's Stud. Nat. I. 52 We shall seek that [specific character] of each plant.. in it's grain, which, as being the principle, must unite every thing proper for it's expansion. 1798 Ferriar Illustr. Sterne, etc. ii. 38 A specimen of D'Aubigné's style, which unites the severe and the ludicrous. 1824 Encycl. Brit. Suppl. II. 111/1 Uniting in himself all the vices of..a Barbary despot. 1864 Bryce Holy Rom. Emp. xii. (1875) 195 The Emperor..was also the East Frankish King, uniting in himself, to use the legal phrase, two wholly distinct ‘persons’. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. xviii. IV. 143 The sons of Ealdgyth united the blood of the two greatest houses in England. |
4. intr. Of persons, personifications, states, etc.: To enter into association, alliance, combination, or union; to join together or with others for some common purpose; to combine in some action or to do something; to act in concert or agreement.
| 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, iii. ii. 1 If you will now vnite in your Complaints,..the Cardinall Cannot stand vnder them. 1670 Clarendon Hist. Reb. xiii. §58 The Presbyterians of Lancashire..nobody imagined to be..unwilling to unite and join with the royal party. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones viii. xiv, All united at last, to drive out that king. 1787 Washington Lett. Writ. 1891 XI. 183 Is it best for the States to unite or not to unite? 1847 Mrs. A. Kerr tr. Ranke's Hist. Servia 22 Now it was necessary that all should unite in direct conflict against a common enemy. 1890 Retrospect Med. CII. 343 Teachers and text-books have all united in impressing upon us the necessity of the greatest care in handling tar. |
b. Of hearts or minds: To become one in feeling or sentiment. poet. or rhet.
| 1766 Fordyce Serm. Yng. Wom. (1767) II. x. 101 With mind only can mind unite. 1781 Cowper Ep. Lady Austen 32 When minds, that never met before, Shall meet, unite, and part no more. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam vi. xxxix, Few were the living hearts which could unite Like ours. |
c. To join in marriage with another.
| 1755 Johnson, To Join, v.n.,..to unite with in marriage. 1866–7 Baring-Gould Curious Myths (1872) 216 A man..unites with a woman of the underground race. |
5. To form one material whole or body; to become one; to be joined together, or to or with others; to combine physically; to coalesce; spec. in Chem., to combine by chemical affinity or attraction.
| 1667 Milton P.L. xii. 382 From my Loynes Thou shalt proceed, and from thy Womb the Son Of God most High; So God with man unites. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. ii. xxiii. §26 Let but a sharp cold come, and they unite, they consolidate, these little atoms cohere. 1716 Pope Iliad v. 375 Where to the hip the inserted thigh unites. 1794 R. P. Knight Landscape i. 194 To lead..the prying sight To where component parts may best unite. 1826 S. Cooper First Lines Surg. (ed. 5) 292 When not too severely contused, they will be found to live and unite to the surrounding parts. 1835 J. Duncan Beetles (Nat. Lib.) 213 There are two broad stripes..on each wing-case, which unite behind. 1871 A. Meadows Man. Midwifery (ed. 2) 54 The tubes..sometimes remaining throughout single, but at other times dividing and uniting again. |
| (b) 1800 tr. Lagrange's Chem. I. 303 They form together a triple salt,..which proves that they exercise a reciprocal attraction, in virtue of which they unite. 1807 T. Thomson Chem. (ed. 3) II. 103 In this way it [water] unites to lime. 1867 Bloxam Chem. 1 Chemical attraction is the force which causes different kinds of matter to unite, in order to form a new kind of matter. |
b. Of naval or military forces, etc.: To form one combined or conjoint body.
| a 1700 Evelyn Diary 5 May 1692, The Eastern wind so constantly blowing, gave our fleete time to unite. 1748 Anson's Voy. i. vii. 75 The time drew near, when the squadron would be separated never to unite again. |
c. Of immaterial things or in non-physical connexion.
| 1795 in Cruise Digest (1818) III. 228 Their heirship is unitas juris: the whole body of the coheirs, however numerous, must unite to constitute the heir. 1809 Coleridge Friend 142 The nature of the Earth and the nature of the Mind unite to make the contrary impossible. 1822 Byron Vis. Judgem. lxvi, The next world; where unite All the costumes since Adam's. |
d. Horsemanship. (See quot. and cf. 1 e above.)
| 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v., A horse is said to unite, or walk in union, when, in galloping, the hind quarters follow and keep time with the fore. |