Forms: 5 vniformite, 6 -ete, 6–7 -itie, 7 -ity, uniformitie, 7– -ity. [a. F. uniformité (14th c., = It. uniformità, Sp. uniformidad, Pg. -dade), or ad. L. ūniformitāt-, ūniformitās, f. ūniformis UNIFORM a.: see -ITY.
So also Du. uniformiteit, G. uniformität.] The quality of being uniform.
1. The fact or condition of having the same form or character as another or others; conformity amongst several things, parts, etc., to one form or character.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 215. Zenon, whiche put euery synne to be of vniformite, so that he scholde synne as moche that did steyle chaffe as the man stelenge golde.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, IX. iv. 39. To thir tua was a will in vnite, A lust, and mynd in vniformete.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 23. Such is the vniformity of almost al the houses of the same streete … that they are made alike both in proportion of workmanship and matter.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. 543. The consent of those that have written thereof, being nothing neare to uniformity.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 132. Its attributes of a Winding river, and the five Bridges, sorting forsooth to uniformitie of streets.
1701. Norris, Ideal World, I. ii. 50. Whence should arise this specific uniformity in the natures of man … if not that they are all cast in one mould?
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., II. ix. Succession and uniformity of parts are what constitute the artificial infinite.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 601. Various differences in the depth, extent, or want of uniformity of the gravelly or clayey strata.
1854. Poultry Chron., II. 149/1. Quality, purity, beauty of plumage, and uniformity [in fowls].
b. Conformity to (or compliance with) one standard of opinion, practice, or procedure, esp. in respect of religion or religious observance.
Act of Uniformity, in Eng. Hist., one or other of three Acts regulating public worship, passed in 1549 (21 Jan.), 1559, and 1662, respectively, which prescribed the use and acceptance of the Books of Common Prayer published in those years; esp: the Act (13 & 14 Charles II. c. 4) passed 19 May 1662, which also required the ‘assent and consent’ of the clergy to everything contained in the Book of Common Prayer; etc.
1549. Act 2 & 3 Edw. VI., c. 1 (title), An Acte for the Unyformytie of Service and Admynistracion of the Sacramentes throughout the Realme.
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech., Pref. To keip vniformitie and concord in setting furth to ye people the doctrine.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., ¶ 13. When the father of their Church … findeth so great fault with them for their oddes and iarring; we hope the children haue no great cause to vaunt of their vniformitie.
1651. Baxter, Inf. Bapt., 147. His treatise against Uniformity.
1670. in Somers, Tracts, I. 21. All Uniformity (or Colour of it) was distasteful to the Independents.
1708. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. III. i. (1710), 155. He must carry with him … Letters Testimonial … from … Three … Reverend Divines, who … can give a good Account of his Vertue, Uniformity, and Learning.
1830. D’Israeli, Chas. I., III. v. 63. Lord Bacon considered that uniformity in religion was absolutely necessary.
1871. C. Davies, Metric Syst., III. 79. Its adoption was therefore a great and important advance toward uniformity.
Comb. 1647. Case Kingd., 10. Till Vniformity-mongers be pointed at as the only Enemies of a State.
c. With a or an.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 125 b. Therfore is an vniformitie to be sought for, that maye be grounded vpon the sure foundation of Scripture.
1641. Milton, Reform., II. 17. This distinction of honour will bring forth a seemly and graceful uniformity over all the kingdom.
1705. Nelson, Fest. & Fasts, i. (ed. 3), 19. The great Council of Nice ordained there should be a constant uniformity in this Case.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 3. 125. An uniformity of weights and measures was ordered to be enforced throughout the realm.
2. The condition of having, occurring in, or maintaining only one form or character; resemblance to or agreement with itself at all times or on all occasions; regularity in action or occurrence. Freq. const. of.
1577. Harrison, England, II. iii. (1877), I. 73. For vniformitie of building, orderlie compaction, and regiment, the towne of Cambridge exceedeth that of Oxford … by manie a fold.
1739. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 217. There is a wonderful uniformity in the conduct of Providence.
1803. Paley, Nat. Theol., xxv. 482. Of the unity of the Deity, the proof is, the uniformity of plan observable in the universe.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea, I. 64. That branch of industry which seeks to give uniformity and mechanic action to bodies of men.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 415. Genius is of all ages, and there is perhaps more uniformity in excellence than in mediocrity.
b. spec. in Geol. Cf. UNIFORMITARIAN(ISM.
1837. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sci., III. 609. The progress of physical geology will be better understood by attending to the doctrine of uniformity.
1869. Huxley, in Scientific Opinion, 28 April, 487/1. It is very conceivable that catastrophes may be part and parcel of uniformity.
3. The condition of having the parts similar in appearance; presentation of one regular or unvaried form on this account; similarity of appearance, design, structure, style, etc.; freedom from or lack of variety, diversity, or irregularity.
Regarded as either an artistic virtue or defect.
1625. Bacon, Ess. (Arb.), 547. Houses are built to Liue in, and not to Looke on: Therefore let Vse bee preferred before Vniformitie.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., III. vii. 168. Uniformity also much pleaseth the eye.
1686. Plot, Staffordsh., 360. The beauty of a structure … did not consist, as now, in uniformity; but in the greatest variety the Artist could possibly shew.
1753. Hogarth, Anal. Beauty, iv. 22. Variety is more pleasing than uniformity, where the same end is answer’d by both.
1778. Sheridan, Camp, II. iii. The tents are all ranged in a straight line; now,… is there not a horrid uniformity in their infinite vista of canvas? no curve, no break.
1842. Mrs. Browning, Bk. Poets, ii. Wks. (1904), 635/1. There is a difference between uniformity and monotony, and he [Marlowe] found it.
b. Unvaried or wearisome sameness; monotony, esp. of life.
1707. Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 64. Custom and Uniformity … soon make the best Things seem dull and insipid.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 167, ¶ 6. The uniformity of life must be sometimes diversified.
1819. Scott, Leg. Montrose, xvii. Men to whom the late uniformity of their military life had rendered any change of society an interesting novelty.
1860. W. Collins, Wom. White, I. W. H.’s Narr. viii. The dull uniformity of life at Limmeridge.
4. With a and pl. A particular instance of this condition; a uniform feature, law, etc.
1665. J. Spencer, Prodigies (ed. 2), 104. All kind of pretty Equalities and Uniformities, especially between Signs and Events.
1733. Berkeley, Th. Vision Vind., § 67. We must not, for the sake of uniformities or analogies, depart from truth and fact.
1864. Bowen, Logic, xii. 412. Simple uniformities, such as are comprehended in a General Fact, may be merely accidental.
1867. Baker, Nile Trib., iii. 63. I measured the depth of some of the wells, and found a uniformity of forty feet.
