a. [ad. late L. ūnītīv-us (Quicherat), f. L. ūnīt., ppl. stem of ūnīre: see UNITE v. and -IVE. Cf. F. unitive, -if (15th c.), Sp., Pg., and It. unitivo.]
1. Having the property or effect of uniting; serving to unite or cause union; characterized by or involving union.
Freq. c. 1643–c. 1670, esp. in the writings of H. More.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 285 b. For loue … is unityue, that is to saye, it disposeth and draweth all thynges that it ruleth, to peace & vnite.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, Notes, 136/2. The unitive power of the Intellect.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Ductor, II. i. rule i. § 33. That all laws which are commonly called Natural are most reasonable, they are perfective of Nature, unitive of Societies.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 162. The ground of magical fascination is one vital unitive principle in the universe.
a. 1834. Coleridge, in Lit. Rem. (1839), IV. 26. Christ, the head, and by his Spirit the bond, or unitive copula of all.
1845. J. H. Newman, Ess. Developm., 337. The very nature of a true philosophy relatively to other systems is to be polemical, eclectic, unitive.
1893. Patmore, Relig. Poetæ, 99. Genius consists wholly in the possession of the divine faculty of synthetic or unitive apprehension.
† b. Of a person. Obs. rare–1.
1651. H. More, Second Lash, in Enthus. Tri., etc. (1656), 195. Thou art so unitive a soul, Phil,… that thou wouldst not stick to match chalk and cheese together.
c. Anat. Of fibers: (see quots.).
1875. Hayden, Dis. Heart, 31. Luton describes the fibres of the ventricles [of the heart] as common and proper. The former are the ‘unitive’ fibres of Gerdy. Ibid., 32. The posterior ‘unitive’ fibres pass from the posterior segments of the auriculo-ventricular zones … to the right edge of the heart.
2. Having the quality or attribute of uniting spiritually to the Deity.
a. 1659. Rous, Heav. Univ. (1702), 160. Until that I shall arrive to the unitive union of the Father.
1675. O. Walker, Paraphr. St. Paul, 94. The institution of the unitiue vertue of the Sacrifices.
1855. Pusey, Doctrine of Real Presence, 312. This introduction [of the body of Christ under these species] … is not an action bringing (adductive of) the Body of Christ, nor simply unitive.
1855. Bailey, Mystic, etc., 58. That blessed secret, unitive and divine,… which us Ones with the heavens.
1879. L. Shepherd, trans. Guéranger’s Liturg. Year, I. 389. This unitive power of the Eucharist.
b. spec. in unitive life, way, etc., applied to the third and final stage of spiritual advancement.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., Disc. i. § 9. All the eminencies and spirituall riches of the unitive life. Ibid., Disc. iii. § 26. Concerning the very same thing which the old Divines call the unitive Way.
1687. Norris, Coll. Misc. (1699), 341. Seraphic love, and this with Contemplation, makes up that which the Mystic Divines stile the Unitive way of Religion.
1716. M. Davies, Athen. Brit., I. 237. The Purgative, Illuminative and Unitive Conditions of the Mind.
1749. Lavington, Enthus. Meth. & Papists (1754), 146. By the purgative and illuminating Way, she attains to the Unitive.
1830. For. Rev. & Cont. Misc., V. 318. The purgative, illuminative, and unitive stages of devotion.
1848. Bailey, Festus (ed. 3), 208. The soul … Lay lulled in glory, and in unitive Life with divinity.
1899. W. R. Inge, Chr. Mysticism, i. 10. Strictly, the unitive road (via) leads to the contemplative life (vita).
Hence Unitively adv.; Unitiveness.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 322. The consideration of the collectiveness and unitiveness of … [these] types.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 307. Jupiter who conteineth the Vniverse, and All things within himself, Vnitively and Intellectually. Ibid., 582. The First of these is sometimes said to be … ‘All things Vnitively,’ The Second … ‘All things Intellectually.’
1812–29. Coleridge in Lit. Rem. (1838), III. 147. The corrupt will cannot … be unitively subordinated to the reason.
1865. Neale, Hymns Paradise, 68. Whom, embracing unitively, Thou shalt love with perfect will.
