unilateral

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   affecting, occurring on, or involving only one side of the body or another structure

   The patient developed unilateral weakness in the left arm and leg.

2. 2
   adj

   done or decided by one party without the agreement or participation of others

   The government announced a unilateral withdrawal from the negotiations.

3. 3
   adj

   tracing kinship or descent through only the maternal line or only the paternal line

   The anthropologist documented a unilateral descent system based on the mother's family.

From New Latin unilateralis ("one-sided"), formed from Latin unus ("one") + lateralis ("of the side"). Political and diplomatic uses extend the literal anatomical idea to action taken by only one side.

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