unit: [16] The term unit was given general currency by the 16th-century English mathematician, astrologer, and magician John Dee. It was formed from Latin ūnus, probably on the analogy of digit, and used as a mathematical term to replace unity as a translation of Euclid’s monás ‘indivisible number’. In a comment added to his introduction to Sir Henry Billingsley’s translation of Euclid, Dee wrote ‘Note the word unit to express the Greek monas, and not unity: as we have all commonly until now used’.
unit (n.)
1560s, "single number regarded as an undivided whole," alteration of unity on the basis of digit. Popularized in John Dee's English translation of Euclid, to express Greek monas (Dee says unity formerly was used in this sense). Meaning "single thing regarded as a member of a group" is attested from 1640s. Extended sense of "a quantity adopted as a standard of measure" is from 1738. Sense of "group of wards in a hospital" is attested from 1893.
例文
1. The unit 's exports will total$85 million this year.
同部門の今年の輸出総額は8500万ドルに達する。
2.Their unit was shelling the German lines only seven miles away.
彼らの部隊はわずか7マイル離れたドイツ軍の防御線を砲撃している。
3.From the smallest to the largest production unit ，no one escaped notice.
最小から最大の生産単位まで、すべて監視下にある。
4.Each unit including the parent company has its own，local management.
親会社を含め、各単位に独自の地方管理層があります。
5.The Indian cavalry under Haig became a functionally efficient unit .