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Merriam Webster - Desegregate :

to free of any law, provision, or practice requiring isolation of the members of a particular race in separate units.

Merriam Webster - Integrate :

to form, coordinate, or blend into a functioning or unified whole : unite.

I am interested to find out a word which fits between the above two, and could be used in the following sentence :

Although not segregated, they did not dwell together in unity preferring to be _____________ .

This relates to matters of culture, race, ethnic origin, social choices and so on but the best way I can illustrate the concept (and the best way to avoid wandering into controversial issues) is to illustrate the idea with next door's cat.

Next door's cat comes in through my open patio door, nibbles at food which I leave out in the conservatory, sniffs around the kitchen ; then wanders into my bedroom and sleeps for a couple of hours between the suitcases under my bed. Then wanders out again, later.

Doesn't look at me. Doesn't hop up in my lap for a stroke. Very occasionally lets me tickle under his chin.

He has chosen not to integrate with my own occupation of my dwelling. But he does not wish to be segregated.

How should I describe the way in which Pudsey the cat wishes to relate to me ?

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    It is a relationship of convenience.
    – user 66974
    Aug 6, 2020 at 11:34
  • I'd say that there's a false comparison here. 'Desegregate', from the definition given and in my judgement, implies an imposition (or rather relaxing of constraint) made by a ruling body. But 'integrate' probably most often refers to a non-regulated (from above) process, a natural coming together. // 'Loose association', 'acquaintanceship', and in a less formal register 'nicely spaced' are ballpark terms.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Aug 6, 2020 at 11:34
  • Is the word alone too plain? Separate?
    – Yosef Baskin
    Aug 6, 2020 at 11:47
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    Solitudinarian if you're talking about being physically apart. Discordant if they are together but something less than openly hostile.
    – Decapitated Soul
    Aug 6, 2020 at 13:35
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    Although not segregated, they did not dwell together in unity preferring to be independent.
    – Greybeard
    Aug 6, 2020 at 14:35

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How about unintegrated? From Cambridge:

integrate: to mix with and join society or a group of people, often changing to suit their way of life, habits, and customs

Based on this, integrated implies mixing with and joining society or a group of people, often changing to suit their way of life, habits, and customs. By the same token, unintegrated implies not mixing with and joining society or a group of people, often changing to suit their way of life, habits, and customs.

Your example:

Although not segregated, they did not dwell together in unity preferring to be (remain) unintegrated.

One could be against segregation -- that is, one could be for desegregation -- without being in favor of or engaging in integration. Thus speaks Pudsey.

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  • The simplest answers are always he best. I didn't see it :)
    – Nigel J
    Aug 6, 2020 at 22:40

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