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unique (adj.)[unique 词源字典]: c. 1600, "single, solitary," from Middle French unique (16c.), from Latin unicus "only, single, sole, alone of its kind," from unus "one" (see one). Meaning "forming the only one of its kind" is attested from 1610s; erroneous sense of "remarkable, uncommon" is attested from mid-19c. Related: Uniquely; uniqueness.[unique etymology, unique origin, 英语词源]
unisex (adj.): "sexually indistinguishable or neutral," 1968, from uni- + sex (n.).
unisexual (adj.): 1802, "of one sex, having only one sex," from uni- + sexual. Meaning "of or for a single sex" (of schools, etc.) is from 1885. Meaning "unisex" is from 1970. Related: Unisexual.
unison (n.): 1570s, "note having the same pitch as another; identity in pitch of two or more sounds; interval between tones of the same pitch," especially the interval of an octave, from Middle French unisson "unison, accord of sound" (16c.) or directly from Medieval Latin unisonus "having one sound, sounding the same," from Late Latin unisonius "in immediate sequence in the scale, monotonous," from Latin uni- "one" (see one) + sonus "sound" (see sound (n.1)). Figurative sense of "harmonious agreement" is first attested 1640s.
unit (n.): 1560s, "single number regarded as an undivided whole," alteration of unity on the basis of digit. Popularized in John Dee's English translation of Euclid, to express Greek monas (Dee says unity formerly was used in this sense). Meaning "single thing regarded as a member of a group" is attested from 1640s. Extended sense of "a quantity adopted as a standard of measure" is from 1738. Sense of "group of wards in a hospital" is attested from 1893.
unitard (n.): 1961, from uni- "one" + ending from leotard.
unitarian (n.): 1680s, "one who rejects the doctrine of the Trinity," from Modern Latin unitarius (1650s), from Latin unitas (see unity) + -ian. Applied to Muslims and other non-Christian monotheists, but especially (and with a capital -u-) of a Christian body originally founded upon the doctrine of unipersonality. The American Unitarian Association formed in 1825. As an adjective from 1680s.
unitarianism (n.): 1690s, from unitarian + -ism.
unitary (adj.): 1847, "characterized by unity or uniformity;" 1865, "of or relating to a unit;" see unit + -ary.
unite (v.): early 15c. (transitive), from Late Latin unitus, past participle of unire "to unite, make into one" (transitive), from Latin unus "one" (see one). Intransitive sense from 1610s. Related: United; uniting.
united (adj.): "made into one," 1550s, past participle adjective from unite (v.).
United Kingdom: attested from 1706.
United Nations: 1942, "the Allied nations at war with the Axis powers;" the international body (officially the United Nations Organization) was chartered in 1945.
Such negotiation as may occur in New York is not conducted within the walls of the tall building by the East River: it is carried out elsewhere, in accordance with those principles of courtesy, confidence and discretion which must for ever remain the only principles conducive to the peaceful settlement of disputes. [Harold Nicholson, "The Evolution of Diplomatic Method," 1954]
united states (n.): attested from 1617, originally with reference to Holland; the North American confederation first so called in 1776. United Provinces were the seven northern provinces of the Netherlands, allied from 1579, later developing into the kingdom of Holland.
uniter (n.): 1580s, agent noun from unite (v.).
unity (n.): c. 1300, "state or property of being one," from Anglo-French unite, Old French unite "uniqueness, oneness" (c. 1200), from Latin unitatem (nominative unitas) "oneness, sameness, agreement," from unus "one" (see one).
univalve: of mollusks and shells, 1660s (noun and adjective), from uni- + valve.
universal (adj.): late 14c., "pertaining to the whole of something specified; occurring everywhere," from Old French universel "general, universal" (12c.), from Latin universalis "of or belonging to all," from universus "all together, whole, entire" (see universe). In mechanics, a universal joint (1670s) is one which allows free movement in any direction. Universal product code is recorded from 1974.
universalism (n.): 1805 in theology, "the doctrine of universal salvation," from universal (adj.) + -ism. Universalist "one who, professing the Christian faith, believes in the eventual redemption of all humanity" is attested from 1620s.
universality (n.): late 14c., from Old French universelite (14c.) or directly from Late Latin universalitas, from Latin universalis "universal" (see universal).