I*den"ti*ty (?), n.; pl.
Identities (#). [F. identité, LL.
identitas, fr. L. idem the same, from the root of
is he, that; cf. Skr. idam this. Cf. Item.]
1. The state or quality of being identical, or
the same; sameness.
Identity is a relation between our cognitions
of a thing, not between things themselves.
Sir W.
Hamilton.
2. The condition of being the same with
something described or asserted, or of possessing a character
claimed; as, to establish the identity of stolen
goods.
3. (Math.) An identical
equation.