adj., pron., & adv.
--adj.
1. (often prec. by the) identical; not different; unchanged (everyone was looking in the same direction; the same car was used in another crime; saying the same thing over and over).
2 unvarying, uniform, monotonous (the same old story).
3 (usu. prec. by this, these, that, those) (of a person or thing) previously alluded to; just mentioned; aforesaid (this same man was later my husband).
--pron. (prec. by the)
1. the same person or thing (the others asked for the same).
2 Law or archaic the person or thing just mentioned (detected the youth breaking in and apprehended the same).
--adv. (usu. prec. by the) similarly; in the same way (we all feel the same; I want to go, the same as you do).
Phrases and idioms:
all (or just) the same
1. emphatically the same.
2 in spite of changed conditions, adverse circumstances, etc. (but you should offer, all the same).
at the same time
1. simultaneously.
2 notwithstanding; in spite of circumstances etc. be all (or just) the same to an expression of indifference or impartiality (it's all the same to me what we do). by the same token see TOKEN. same here colloq. the same applies to me. the same to you! may you do, have, find, etc., the same thing; likewise. the very same emphatically the same.
Derivatives:
sameness n.
Etymology: ME f. ON sami, sama, with Gmc cognates