ppl. a. [f. prec.]
1. Put or joined together; combined, connected, made one. (Cf. also sense 4.)
1552. Huloet, Vnited, vnitus.
1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xiii. They will teach those united hearts the greatest Love.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1110. [They] durst not with thir whole united powers In fight withstand me.
1706. Prior, Ode to Queen, xiii. Unmov’d the Two united Chiefs abide.
1796. Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), I. 340. Anthers 5, narrow, united.
1804. Gazetteer Scot. (1806), 541. The united streams of the Dochart and Lochy.
1839. T. Mitchell, Frogs of Aristoph., p. xcviii. A poem at least of equal length with the Iliad and Odyssey united.
1865–6. Cayley, Math. Papers (1893), VI. 9. If two points of a unicursal curve have an (α, α′) correspondence, the number of united points is = α + α′.
2. Of, belonging to, or produced by two or more persons, agents, or things in union or combination; conjoint, joint.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. xxvi. Their united rage was now growne … to a crossing one of another.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., VIII. § 235. They could not … support the war any longer against the united power of the rebels.
1697. Dryden, Virg., Georg., IV. 242. All, with united Force, combine to drive The lazy Drones from the laborious Hive.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, ix. With sudden strength, he burst from their united hold.
1820. R. Peel, in Croker Papers (1884), I. 177. The united voice of King, Lords, and Commons.
1847. Mrs. A. Kerr, trans. Ranke’s Hist. Servia, 257. The united consent of all Europe would have been the most desirable.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xxiii. 300. Our united estimate assigned to it an elevation of from 2500 to 3000 feet.
1871. Jowett, Plato, II. 174. Incapable of united action by reason of sedition.
b. Constituted or formed by, resulting from, the union of two or more parts or sections.
Freq. in the titles of churches, societies, etc., formed by the union or reunion of bodies or sections which had seceded or were formerly separate, e.g., United Free Church of Scotland, United Methodist Free Church, United Secession Church: cf. 4.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, IV. 145. One common kingdom, one united line.
1833. Jas. Davidson, Brit. & Rom. Rem. Axminster, 25. Where, forming a junction with its fellow [‘trackway’], the united road leads through the town.
1835. [T. Jackson], Man. Sects & Heresies, 112. In 1829 the two bodies were rejoined under the name of the United Secession Church.
1847. Mrs. A. Kerr, trans. Ranke’s Hist. Servia, 284. The united army took up its position close by the mouths of the Morawa.
c. Bot. Of a flower (see quot. 1829).
1807. J. E. Smith, Phys. Bot., 396. In this genus the Pistil of the united flower scarcely produces seed.
1829. T. Castle, Introd. Bot., 92. When the stamens and pistils are both, as usual, in one flower, it is called perfect or united.
1884. E. L. Anderson, Mod. Horsem., 139. When the horse will continue the united trot without the aid of the reins. Ibid. The horse will be practised in keeping the united form at the walk.
† 3. Forming or conferring union. Obs.–1
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. vi. 51. That you’l procure the Vicar To stay for me at Church…. And in the lawfull name of marrying, To giue our hearts vnited ceremony.
4. Special collocations in the names of states, corporate bodies, or persons allied, associated, or joined together in a union or confederation.
United Brethren, the Moravians. United Colonies, † (a) the four colonies that formed the New England Confederation (see CONFEDERATION 2); (b) the thirteen North American colonies which revolted against Great Britain and formed the original Republic of N. America (see UNION sb.1 3 c and 7 c, and cf. UNITED STATES 1 b). United Greek, a member of the United Greek Church (see quot. 1863), a Uniat. United Irishman, a member of the Society of United Irishmen, a political association, originally formed to promote union between Protestants and Catholics, which became a separatist secret society and took part in organizing the rebellion of 1798. United Presbyterian: (see PRESBYTERIAN a. 1 c). United Provinces, the seven northern provinces of the Netherlands, allied together principally by the Union of Utrecht in 1579, and subsequently developing into the kingdom of Holland (cf. UNITED STATES 1 a).
1586. Acts Privy Counc. (N.S.), 190. The knowen subjectes … of the Unyted Provinces.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 92. The States of the vnited Provinces.
1643. in Winthrop, New Eng. (1826), II. 101. They … do … conclude that they all be … called by the name of the United Colonies of New England.
1677. W. Hubbard, Narrative (1865), II. 252. The Commissioners of our United Colonyes.
1702. C. Mather, Magnalia, IV. iv. 177. It had not been so long before the Names of Presbyterian and Congregational, had been melted down into that one of United Brethren.
1775. Pennsylv. Even. Post, 21 Dec., 587/1. Captain Coit, in an armed schooner of the United Colonies, lately chased a transport.
1777. R. Watson, Philip II., xxiv. II. 406. Although this event gave great satisfaction to the people subject to the Spanish government, it was not likely to produce any change in the sentiments, or conduct of their neighbours in the United Provinces.
1791. in W. Tone, Autobiog. (1826), I. 368. We have agreed to form an association to be called ‘THE SOCIETY OF UNITED IRISHMEN.’
1799. J. Adams, Wks. (1854), IX. 4. He is doubtless a United Irishman.
1837. Lover, Rory O’More, I. x. 214. An extended palm which … exchanged with him the grip of the United Irishman.
1849. Rock, Ch. of Fathers, I. ii. I. 90. The United or orthodox Greeks.
1863. Chambers’ Encycl., V. 88/1. The United Greek Church comprehends those Christians who, while they … observe the general discipline of the Greek Church,… are yet united with the Church of Rome. Ibid. The United Greeks.
b. United Kingdom, the kingdom of Great Britain, or esp. (after the union with Ireland in 1801) of Great Britain and Ireland. Abbrev. U.K.
1707. Hist. Reign Q. Anne, V. App. 11. That the United Kingdom of Great-Britain be represented by one and the same Parliament, to be stiled the Parliament of Great-Britain.
1737. Gentl. Mag., VII. 609/1. I have more Reason to oppose it, than any Man in this House, nay perhaps than any Man in the United Kingdom.
1800. Act 39 & 40 Geo. III., c. 67. 359. The said Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland shall … be united into one Kingdom, by the name of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
1832. Act 2 & 3 Will. IV., c. 75. § 1. That part of the United Kingdom called Great Britain, and … that part of the United Kingdom called Ireland.
c. United Irishism, the views or principles of the United Irishmen.
1800. W. Drennan, in Microscope, March, 134. He fears that political and religious schism, that White-Boyism,… Catholicism, United-Irishism may … change into Patriotism.
1844. P. Harwood, Hist. Irish Reb., 120. Munster was … the only province of Ireland not deeply leavened with Defenderism or United Irishism.
