Origin and history of solidary

late 14c., "not empty or hollow, hardened;" of figures or bodies, "having three dimensions," from Old French solide "firm, dense, compact," from Latin solidus "firm, whole, undivided, entire," figuratively "sound, trustworthy, genuine," from suffixed form of PIE root *sol- "whole."

The meaning "firm, hard, compact" is from 1530s. Of arguments, etc., "substantial" (opposed to frivolous or flimsy). The meaning "entirely of the same stuff" is from 1710. Of qualities, "well-established, considerable" c. 1600. Of food from c. 1700.

As a mere intensifier, "thoroughly, downright," by 1830. The slang sense of "wonderful, remarkable" is attested by 1920 among jazz musicians.

As an adverb, "solidly, completely," 1650s. Solid South in U.S. political history is attested from 1858 on the notion of unanimity in voting; solid in this sense (in reference to New York) is by 1855. Solid state as a term in physics is recorded from 1953; the meaning "employing printed circuits and solid transistors" (as opposed to wires and vacuum tubes) is from 1959.

adjective and noun word-forming element, in most cases from Latin -arius, -aria, -arium "connected with, pertaining to; the man engaged in," from PIE relational adjective suffix *-yo- "of or belonging to."

The neuter of the adjectives in Latin also were often used as nouns (solarium "sundial," vivarium, honorarium, cucumerarium "a cucumber field," etc.). It appears in words borrowed from Latin in Middle English. In later borrowings from Latin to French, it became -aire and passed into Middle English as -arie, subsequently -ary.