1. The state or
characteristic of
being selfsame, or the same; sameness. "Identity is a
relation between our cognitions of a thing, not between things themselves." (Sir W. Hamilton)
2. The
condition of
being the
same with something described or asserted, or of possessing a
nature claimed; as, to
establish the
identity of stolen goods.
3.
An selfsame equation.
Origin: F. Identite, LL. Identitas, fr. L. Idem the same, from the root of is he, that; cf. Skr. Idam this. Cf. Item.
Source: Websters Vocabulary