Etymology
Blog
Etymology Blog

Identity etymology

English

English word identity comes from Proto-Indo-European *yo-, and later Proto-Italic *is ((in the plural) they. (in the singular) he, she, it.)

Detailed word origin of identity

Dictionary entry Language Definition
*yo- Proto-Indo-European (ine)
*is Proto-Italic (itc-pro) (in the plural) they. (in the singular) he, she, it.
im Old Latin (itc-ola)
idem Latin (lat) The same (usually with ablative).
identité Middle French (ca. 1400-1600) (frm)
identity English (en) (Australia, NZ) A well-known or famous person.. (algebra) An element of an algebraic structure which, when applied to another element under an operation in that structure, yields this second element.. (algebra, computing) Any function which maps all elements of its domain to themselves.. A name or persona—the mask or appearance one presents to the world—by which one is known.. Sameness, [...]