Definition of incorporate

The word "incorporate" originates from the Latin phrase "in corpora" which means "into the body." This phrase was used during the Roman Empire to describe the process of merging one entity into another, specifically when the entity being merged became a part of the receiving entity's overall structure. The modern usage of the term "incorporate" can be traced back to medieval times, where it referred to the incorporation of a church or a monastery into a larger religious organization. In the 16th century, the term began to be used in a corporate context to describe the process by which a group of individuals came together to form a legal entity with its own distinct identity. In essence, to "incorporate" is to combine separate entities into a single, unified whole. This can be seen in both organic and legal contexts, where the concept of "incorporating" is used to describe the merging of parts into a cohesive whole. The use of the term "incorporate" has evolved over time, but its meaning has remained constant: to merge two separate entities into a single, integrated entity. It continues to be a crucial legal term today, particularly in the context of business incorporation, where it describes the process by which a company acquires legal recognition as a separate entity.