1. A single person, animal, or thing of any kind; a thing or being incapable of separation or division, without losing its identity; especially, a human being; a person. Cowper. An object which is in the strict and primary sense one, and can not be logically divided, is called an individual. Whately. That individuals die, his will ordains. Dryden.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) An independent, or partially independent, zooid of a compound animal. (b) The product of a single egg, whether it remains a single animal or becomes compound by budding or fission.
INDIVIDUALISM
In`di*vid"u*al*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. individualisme.]
1. The quality of being individual; individuality; personality.
2. An excessive or exclusive regard to one's personal interest; self- interest; selfishness. The selfishness of the small proprietor has been described by the best writers as individualism. Ed. Rev.
INDIVIDUALISTIC
In`di*vid`u*al*is"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the individual or individualism. London
Athenæum.
INDIVIDUALITY In`di*vid`u*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Individualities. Etym: [Cf. F. individualité.]
1. The quality or state of being individual or constituting an individual; separate or distinct existence; oneness; unity. Arbuthnot. They possess separate individualities. H. Spencer.
2. The character or property appropriate or peculiar to an individual; that quality which distinguishes one person or thing from another; the sum of characteristic traits; distinctive character; as, he is a person of marked individuality.