Same (?), a. [AS. same. adv.; akin to OS. sama, samo, adv., OHG. sam, a., sama, adv., Icel. samr, a., Sw. samme, samma, Dan. samme, Goth. sama, Russ. samui, Gr. , Skr. sama, Gr. like, L. simul at the same time, similis like, and E. some, a., -some. &root;191. Cf. Anomalous, Assemble, Homeopathy, Homily, Seem, v. i., Semi-, Similar, Some.]
1.
Not different or other; not another or others; identical; unchanged.
Thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
Ps. cii. 27.
2.
Of like kind, species, sort, dimensions, or the like; not differing in character or in the quality or qualities compared; corresponding; not discordant; similar; like.
The ethereal vigor is in all the same.
Dryden.
3.
Just mentioned, or just about to be mentioned.
What ye know, the same do I know.
Job. xiii. 2.
Do but think how well the same he spends,
Who spends his blood his country to relieve.
Daniel.
⇒ Same is commonly preceded by the, this, or that and is often used substantively as in the citations above. In a comparative use it is followed by as or with.
Bees like the same odors as we do.
Lubbock.
[He] held the same political opinions with his illustrious friend.
Macaulay.
© Webster 1913.