‖ individuum
(ɪndɪˈvɪdjuːəm)
Pl. -a, -ums.
[L. indīviduum an indivisible particle, an atom, in med.L., an individual, esp. a member of a species; subst. use of neut. sing. of indīviduus undivided, indivisible, inseparable, f. in- in-3) + dīviduus divisible, dividuous, f. dīvidĕre to divide. Treated as a Latin word in senses 1–2; but in 3 as naturalized, with pl. -ums.]
1. That which cannot be divided; the indivisible; an indivisible entity.
| 1599 Marston Sco. Villanie i. ii. 177 Almighty men, that can their maker make, And force his sacred bodie..to be gnawne..Diuiding indiuiduum really. 1609 Ev. Woman in Hum. v. i. H iij, Linke her to thy soule, Deuide not indiuidium, be her and shee thee. 1616 Bullokar, Indiuiduum, that which cannot bee diuided. 1754 Sherlock Disc. (1764) I. 203 The Learned made the Soul alone to be the perfect Individuum. |
† b. An atom. Obs.
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., Individuum, one singular thing; that which cannot be divided, a body inseparable, a Moat. 1706 Phillips, An Individual or Individuum, (in Philos.) a Body or Particle so small that it cannot be divided, which is otherwise call'd an Atome. |
2. Logic. A member of a species; = individual n. 1 b.
individuum vagum: something indicated as an individual, without specific identification.
| 1555 Ridley Lord's Supper Wks. (Parker Soc.) 24 And therefore he [Duns] calleth this pronoun demonstrative ‘this’, individuum vagum, that is, a wandering proper name. 1610 D. Carleton in Crt. & Times Jas. I (1848) I. 124 When we ask the question, ‘Why this objection may not as well hold in every private bill of this kind?’ they answer that, ‘individua, by name, do no hurt to the general’. 1652 Gaule Magastrom. 230 In the forehead of the image let be written the name of the species, or individuum, which the image represents. 1727 Pope Mem. M. Scriblerus i. vii. Wks. 1751 VI. 131 From particular propositions nothing can be concluded, because the Individua vaga are..barren. |
3. An individual person or thing; = individual n. 2, 3.
| 1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. v. 843 That so each Kinde may last immortally, Though th' Indiuiduum pass successively. 1618 M. Baret Horsemanship i. 98 In horses, though there be many differences of the indiuiduums..yet the expert Horseman..can reforme their rebellion. 1646 J. Hall Poems i. 23 Why would she choose her Priests to be Such Individuums as ye? Such Insecta's? 1656 Stanley Hist. Philos. vi. (1701) 253/2 A continual succession of many individuums of the same species. 1659 Bp. Walton Consid. Considered in Todd Mem. II. 80 Is not a man the same individuum, when his hair is cut or his nails pared, that he was before? 1745 Baker Don Quix. II. vi. v. 206 He had the misfortune to appear in my Eyes the most horrid Individuum of human Race. |