in any system of weights, measures, or money, by which its several denominations are regulated, and
which is itself defined by comparison with some known magnitude, either natural or empirical, as, in the
United States, the dollar for money, the pound avoirdupois for weight, the yard for length, the gallon of
8.3389 pounds avoirdupois of water at 39.8° Fahr. (about 231 cubic inches) for liquid measure, etc.; in
Great Britain, the pound sterling, the pound troy, the yard, or &frac1x108719 part of the length of a second's
pendulum at London, the gallon of 277.274 cubic inches, etc.; in the metric system, the meter, the liter,
the gram, etc. — Unit of power. (Mach.) See Horse power. — Unit of resistance. (Elec.) See
Resistance, n., 4, and Ohm. — Unit of work (Physics), the amount of work done by a unit force
acting through a unit distance, or the amount required to lift a unit weight through a unit distance against
gravitation. See Erg, Foot Pound, Kilogrammeter. — Unit stress (Mech. Physics), stress per unit
of area; intensity of stress. It is expressed in ounces, pounds, tons, etc., per square inch, square foot, or
square yard, etc., or in atmospheres, or inches of mercury or water, or the like.
Unitable
(U*nit"a*ble) a. Capable of union by growth or otherwise. Owen.
Unitarian
(U`ni*ta"ri*an) n. [Cf. F. unitaire, unitairien, NL. unitarius. See Unity.]
1. (Theol.) One who denies the doctrine of the Trinity, believing that God exists only in one person; a
unipersonalist; also, one of a denomination of Christians holding this belief.
2. One who rejects the principle of dualism.
3. A monotheist. [R.] Fleming.
Unitarian
(U`ni*ta"ri*an) a. Of or pertaining to Unitarians, or their doctrines.
Unitarianism
(U`ni*ta"ri*an*ism) n. [Cf. F. unitairianisme.] The doctrines of Unitarians.
Unitarianize
(U`ni*ta"ri*an*ize) v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Unitarianized ; p. pr. & vb. n. Unitarianizing ]
To change or turn to Unitarian views.
Unitary
(U"nit*a*ry) a.
1. Of or pertaining to a unit or units; relating to unity; as, the unitary method in arithmetic.
2. Of the nature of a unit; not divided; united.
Unitary theory (Chem.), the modern theory that the molecules of all complete compounds are units,
whose parts are bound together in definite structure, with mutual and reciprocal influence on each other,
and are not mere aggregations of more or less complex groups; — distinguished from the dualistic theory.
Unite
(U*nite") v. t. [imp. & p. p. United; p. pr. & vb. n. Uniting.] [L. unitus, p. p. of unire to unite,
from unus one. See One.]
1. To put together so as to make one; to join, as two or more constituents, to form a whole; to combine; to
connect; to join; to cause to adhere; as, to unite bricks by mortar; to unite iron bars by welding; to unite
two armies.
2. Hence, to join by a legal or moral bond, as families by marriage, nations by treaty, men by opinions; to
join in interest, affection, fellowship, or the like; to cause to agree; to harmonize; to associate; to attach.
Under his great vicegerent reign abide,
United as one individual soul.
Milton.
The king proposed nothing more than to unite his kingdom in one form of worship.
Clarendon. Syn. — To add; join; annex; attach. See Add.
