Forms: 4–7 ioynt, 5–7 ioint, (5 yont, 6 iont, ioncte), 7–8 joynt, 7– joint. See also JUNCT. [a. F. joint (:—L. junctum), pa. pple. of joindre:—L. jungĕre to join. In sense 2 often, in other senses occasionally, hyphened to the following sb.]
1. Put together, joined, combined, united. † a. Const. as pa. pple. or in predicate. Obs.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 10625 (Trin.). Þe witt þe vertu of hir ioynt [Laud to hir ioynt] May no mon write wiþ penne poynt.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 253. Whan Pride is with Envie joint.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 2037. I … knelide doun with hondis joynt.
c. 1590. Greene, Fr. Bacon, ix. 185. Next to him, And joint with him Castile and Saxony are welcome.
1727. Wodrow, Corr. (1843), III. 280. The Presbytery of Glasgow … are joint and unanimous for what I know.
b. as adj. in attributive relation. Rarely of material things; usually of the actions or attributes of two or more persons, etc. spec. Of the lives of two or more persons: Continuing together in time until one lapses, contemporaneous, concurrent.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., II. ii. 193. For ’tis a cause that hath no meane dependance, Vpon our ioynt and seuerall dignities.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., II. 120. By their joynt endeavours.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. iii. 214. They therefore settled the crown, first on king William and queen Mary … for their joint lives.
1853. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk. (1873), II. I. ii. 59. Civilized by the joint influences of religion and of chivalry.
1883. Sir E. Kay, in Law Times Rep., XLIX. 261/1. During the joint lives of the trustees.
2. Of a person or persons: United or sharing with another, or among themselves, in some possession, action, liability, etc.; having or doing (what is expressed by the noun) together or in common.
Often hyphened to the following sb., esp. in words of legal or technical use.
1424–5. E. E. Wills (1882), 60. Now I declare here my laste wille, als wel to my saide feffez as to my ioint feffes.
1568. Bible (Bishops’), Rom. viii. 17. Heyres of God and ioyntheyres [1611 ioynt heires] with Christe.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. 106. Joint-laborers with him for honor and glorie.
1607. Shaks., Cor., V. vi. 32. I … Made him ioynt-seruant with me.
1698. F. B., Modest Censure, 4. Joint-partners in the same Principles.
1708. Hearne, Collect., 13 Nov. (O. H. S.), II. 151. Having Two Churches, and Two Joint-Rectors.
1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4), II. 920. Joint owners of property insured for their joint use and on their own account.
1878. F. S. Williams, Midl. Railw., 201. The directors … agreed with the G. N. and Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire lines in becoming joint-owners of the Stockport and Woodley Junction.
3. Of a thing, action, etc. (in sing.): Held, done, made, etc., by two or more persons, parties, or things, in conjunction; of or belonging to more than one at once; common to two or more.
1424–5. E. E. Wills (1882), 60. Diuers men haf ioint astate whit me in diuerce of my purchace be wey of truste.
1503–4. Act 19 Hen. VII., c. 25. Preamble, As if the seid persones … had a iont astate … wt the seid suruiuours.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, v. 56–7. By the iointworking of the vnderstanding and will together.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. ii. 55. A ioynt burthen, laid vpon vs all.
1634. W. Tirwhyt, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. I.), 69. You remember … what our ioynt opinion hath beene.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 345. The joint Advantage both of the Emperor and his Subjects.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), II. 117. In one corner Henry VII. and Ferdinand are conferring amicably on a joint throne.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 183. The remaining grand incident of joint-estates, viz. the doctrine of survivorship.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxi. IV. 553. It was determined that a joint committee of the two Houses should be appointed.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xviii. 250. All hopes of joint action were at an end.
† 4. Made up of parts joined, fastened together, or combined (see also JOINT-STOOL); continuous, uninterrupted (quot. 13[?]); fig. with reference to an unopened rose (quot. c. 1450). Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 355. On to þrenge þer-þurȝe [Niniue] watz þre dayes dede. Þat on Iournay ful Ioynt Ionas hym ȝede Er euer he warpped any worde.
c. 1429. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), II. 445. It’ pro lj ped’ de joyntable vjs iiijd ob.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xliii. 480. Al Ioint & Clos In Al manere tyme as was the Rose.
a. 1711. Ken, Edmund, Poet. Wks. 1721, II. 301. O’re the Stone Bridge, cross the Joint-Current laid.
† 5. = JOINTED. Obs.
1685. Lond. Gaz., No. 2054/4. Lost … a Joynt Cane, wrought with a Gold Head on it.
† 6. Used advb. = JOINTLY. Obs.
1424–5. E. E. Wills (1882), 61. Als wel þo þat stande enfeffed by me, as þo þat ben joint feffed with me.
a. 1691. Boyle, Hist. Air, xiii. (1692), 67. Our so much joint-esteemed friend Mr. Mercator.
7. Comb., as joint-awned, having a jointed awn.
1787. Fam. Plants, I. 348. Seeds numerous … joint-awn’d with a long style.
