[iden.ti.ty] n, pl -ties [MF identite, fr. LL identitat-, identitas, prob. fr. L identidem repeatedly, contr. of idem et idem, lit., same and same] (1570) 1 a: sameness of essential or generic character in different instances b: sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing: oneness
2. a: the distinguishing character or personality of an individual: individuality b: the relation established by psychological identification
3: the condition of being the same with something described or asserted "establish the ~ of stolen goods"
4: an equation that is satisfied for all values of the symbols
5: identity element