Conjoin

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /kənˈd͡ʒɔɪn/

Definitions

1. To link or bring together various elements in order to create a unified structure
2. To merge separate components so that they operate as one entity
3. To connect or unite two or more things into a single unit

Etymology: The verb "conjoin" is built from two parts that are both still visible in English. The "con-" element means "together," and "join" is the everyday word for bringing things into contact or connection. Put together, the verb means to join things into one. Its route into English ran through French. Old French had "conjoindre," which came from the Latin "coniungere," itself formed from "con-" and "iungere," "to join." The Latin root "iungere" is also the ancestor of "join," so English ended up with a word that duplicates its own native verb, which is why "conjoin" can feel like a near-synonym of "join" with a slightly more formal, legal, or bookish air.

Synonyms: join, combine, unite, link, merge

Antonyms: separate, divide, disconnect, detach, split