Also 6 vnifourme, 6–8 uniforme. [a. F. uniforme (14th c. in Godef., = It., Sp., Pg. uniforme), or ad. L. ūniformis: see UNI- and FORM.]
I. Of things in respect of their own qualities or constitution.
1. Of one form, character, or kind; having, maintaining, occurring in or under, the same form always; that is or remains the same in different places, at different times, or under varying circumstances; exhibiting no difference, diversity, or variation.
1540. Palsgr., Acolastus, A ij. One selfe and vniforme maner of teachynge of all those Grammaticalle ensygnementes.
1555. Watreman, Fardle Facions, I. v. 72. The ordre of Mariage emong the Egiptians is not vniforme.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 161. This impression, that maketh either the foresaid uniforme likenesse, or confusion and varietie.
1662. Extr. St. Papers Friends, Ser. II. (1911), 150. Wee would be glad that all our Subjects could be brought to agree in a uniforme Worship of God.
1710. Prideaux, Orig. Tithes, ii. 127. From whence else should they have such a Uniform Usage but by a Uniform Tradition from them?
1780. Bentham, Princ. Legisl., xiv. § 1. It is lost time to seek for an uniform base of agreement upon so essential an object.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xi. According to a uniform custom in remote places in Scotland.
1869. F. W. Newman, Misc., 224. A uniform franchise through the whole federation would have followed.
1891. Law Times, XCII. 124/1. In Ireland the practice in this respect … was not uniform.
absol. 1606. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. II. Magnif., 1335. Cause of all Causes, Ocean of all Good… The Uni-form, which gives all forms their Beeing.
b. Of persons (or personifications), their disposition, etc. Hence, exhibiting or preserving uniformity or consistency in respect of conduct or opinion; consistent.
1551. Cranmer, Answ. to Gardiner, I. 14. The churche of Rome … sheweth her selfe alway vniforme and consonaunt, to confound all the doctrine of Christe.
1647. H. More, Phil. Poems, II. lxxii. If he will his own fortunes overturn It cannot well be holp, we must be uniform.
1692. Dryden, St. Euremont’s Ess., 339. There is a man so uniform as to have nothing of Inequality and contrariety in his Actions.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, i. I. 3. Every-body pities you. So steady so uniform in your conduct.
1799. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp. (1834), I. 16. Of this uniform disposition abundant proofs have been afforded by each of the allies.
1822. Scott, Peveril, xlviii. For Buckingham’s sins,… he is the regular and uniform sponsor.
† c. Of consent: Unanimous. Obs.
1559. in Strype, Ann. Ref., viii. (1709), 116. We … have with one uniform consent set forth this short declaration.
1620. Brent, trans. Sarpi’s Counc. Trent, VIII. 745. An vniforme consent of Doctors.
d. Of clothing or dress: Of the same pattern, color, and material amongst a number or body of persons.
Merging into an attrib. use of UNIFORM sb. (sense 4).
1746. in Jrnl. Archaeol. Soc. (1847), II. 77. That a uniform dress is useful and necessary for the commissioned officers.
1768. Ann. Reg., Chron., 63/1. The lappels and cuffs of the military uniform frocks, appointed to be worn by the lieutenants of his Majesty’s fleet. Ibid. (1783), 193/2. The uniform clothing … worn by the flag officers.
1890. Harper’s Mag., Feb., 333. The practice of clothing soldiers, by regiments, in one uniform dress.
2. Having or presenting the same appearance or aspect; exhibiting no, or little, diversity in respect of form, design, or dimensions; hence, having a plain, unbroken, or undiversified surface or exterior.
In the 17th–18th centuries freq. of buildings, etc.
a. 1550. Leland, Itin. (1768), I. 107. The Chirch of S. Mary is excellent, newe, and uniforme yn work.
1621. in Kempe, Losely MSS. (1836), 456. The church of St. Treguse ys … a very good one, were it uniforme.
1632. Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, III. i. All else about you, cap-a-pie, So uniform in spite of handsomeness, Shews such a bold contempt of comeliness.
1696. Whiston, Theory of Earth, II. 115. Every such state of external Nature was even, uniform, and regular.
1723. Chambers, trans. Le Clerc’s Treat. Arch., I. 59. Columns … ought not to have any Flutings; for … plain uniform Columns carry … a better appearance.
1756. Nugent, Gr. Tour, Netherl., I. 299. The street called La Rue Royale, is one of the longest, straightest, and most uniform in Europe.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 178. All this uniform, uncolour’d scene, Shall be dismantled of its fleecy load.
1859. Darwin, Orig. Spec., iii. 73. The face of nature remains uniform for long periods of time.
1884. Bower & Scott, De Bary’s Phaner., 110. The thickening mass is either uniform or pitted.
As adv. 1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 132. Paris … is the greater, the uniformer built, and stronglier situate.
† b. Bot. Of flowers: (see quots.). Obs.
1693. Phil. Trans., XVII. 929. Such as have a Uniform Flower, as Senna, or such as have a difform or Papilionaceous Flower.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Uniform Flowers of Plants, the Botanists call such as are all round of the same Figure; or whose fore and back part, and whose right and left parts are exactly alike.
c. Of material things or color.
In this group the sense sometimes becomes narrowed down to ‘not mixed or blended.’
1756. Burke, On the Sublime & Beautiful, III. xxvii. Nor … is the power of black as black, or of white as white, so strong as when each stands uniform and distinguished.
1764. Harmer, Observ., IV. § 27. 192. This mingled wine stands in opposition to new wine, which is, to the eye, an uniform liquor.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., ii. His jerkin, hose, and cloak, were of a dark uniform colour.
1845. Florist’s Jrnl., 261. Few gardens could boast an uniform luxuriant green among the plants.
c. 1860. Faraday, Forces Nat., 67. This piece of glass … being perfectly uniform in its internal structure.
3. Of motion, dimensions, etc.: Free from fluctuation or variation in respect of quantity or amount.
1559. W. Cunningham, Cosmogr. Glasse, 10. The sterres kepe one vniforme distance in moving.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxix. § 2. The heauens … keepe in their motions vniforme celeritie.
1656. trans. Hobbes’ Elem. Philos., III. xv. 156. Uniform [motion] is that by which equal Lines are alwayes transmitted in equal times.
1764. Museum Rust., IV. 58. We should find it in an uniform progression of encrease.
1796. Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), III. 879. Branches of a uniform breadth.
1850. Maury, Phys. Geog. (Low), xxii. § 883. The flow of heat from the sun is held to be uniform.
1879. Thomson & Tait, Nat. Phil., I. I. § 20. Velocity … may be uniform, i.e. the same at every instant; or it may be variable.
II. Of things of the same class in respect of each other, or of one thing in relation to another or others of the same class.
4. Of the same form, character, or kind as another or others; agreeing or according with one another, conforming to one standard, rule, or pattern; alike, similar.
1548. W. Thomas, in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), II. App. v. 71. So because we have no neighbour of uniform religion, I determine we can find no friend, whose amity is to be trusted.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., IV. xiii. § 2. The only doubt is about the manner of their unity; how far churches are bound to be uniform in their ceremonies.
1637. Saltonstall, Eusebius’ Constantine, 77. Thus the Emperours Edict discovered the Dens and uniforme Cages of these Heretickes.
1660. R. Coxe, Power & Subj., 222. The ceremonies of Edward’s Reformation were more uniform than before.
1702. Engl. Theophrast., 263. Things Past, Present, and to Conne, are strangely Uniform and of a Colour.
1762. Kames, Elem. Crit. (1833), 481. When two figures are composed of similar parts, they are said to be uniform.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xvi. My answers on the subject have been uniform.
1867. Smiles, Huguenots Eng., i. 6. The copies sold having been compared with each other, were found to be exactly uniform.
1878. Bristowe, Th. & Pract. Med. (ed. 2), 534. The symptoms of rupture of the heart are far from uniform.
† b. Of buildings. Obs.
1549. W. Thomas, Hist. Italy, 207. Buildynges on bothe sides so fayre and vniforme.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 66. The houses are most of bricke,… and so vniforme, as if they had all beene built at a time, and by the same workemen.
1684. Burnet, trans. More’s Utopia, 73. Their Buildings are good, and are so uniform, that a whole side of a Street looks like one House.
1700. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 291. Ye buildings be handsome & uniform.
† c. Of persons. Obs.
In quot. referring to Matt. xxii. 11–13.
a. 1626. Bp. Andrewes, Pattern Cath. Doctr. (1630), 210. He that was not uniforme was punished.
† d. In agreement with, accordant to, something.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. xii. So divers be the Elements disposed In this weake worke, that it can never be Made uniforme to any state reposed.
1669. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), II. 557. Three outward dore cases shalbe arched … with freestone vniforme to the windowes.
1702. H. Dodwell, Apol., § 19. I have shewn it agreeable to the severest Reasoning … to make his Death uniform to the rest of his Life.
