Ī-dĕn′ti-ty, n.

n. [Fr. identité, It. identità, Sp. identidad, L. Lat. identitas, from idem, the same.] 1. The state or quality of being identical, 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 character claimed; as, to establish the identity of stolen goods.