Solidarities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A sense of mutual support and unity among individuals or groups that share common interests or goals
2. The bond that forms when individuals collectively face challenges or advocate for shared rights or causes
3. A demonstration of togetherness and collaborative strength that emerges from shared experiences and pursuits

Etymology: "Solidarities" is simply the plural of "solidarity," so its history is that of the noun itself. The root is Latin "solidum," meaning "whole sum," the neuter form of "solidus," which meant "solid." The idea of wholeness carried over into French, where "solidaire" came to describe people bound together by shared obligation, and from there the noun "solidarité" developed. English took up the word through that French path, adding its own "-ity" ending to the adjective "solidary" to form the abstract noun. The plural form appears when people speak of several distinct bonds of mutual support, such as the separate solidarities among different labour movements or communities. The word moved from a concrete notion of a solid whole to an abstract one: a group becomes solid when its members consistently stand together.

Synonyms: unity, togetherness, cohesion, solidarity, support

Antonyms: division, disunity, separation, alienation, isolation