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Webster 1913 Edition

Equivalent

E-quiv′a-lent

(ē̍-kwĭv′ȧ-lent)
,
Adj.
[L.
aequivalens
,
-entis
, p. pr. of
aequivalere
to have equal power;
aequus
equal +
valere
to be strong, be worth: cf. F.
équivalent
. See
Equal
, and
Valiant
.]
1.
Equal in worth or value, force, power, effect, import, and the like; alike in significance and value; of the same import or meaning.
For now to serve and to minister, servile and ministerial, are terms
equivalent
.
South.
2.
(Geom.)
Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; – applied to magnitudes;
as, a square may be
equivalent
to a triangle
.
3.
(Geol.)
Contemporaneous in origin;
as, the
equivalent
strata of different countries
.

E-quiv′a-lent

(ē̍-kwĭv′ȧ-lent)
,
Noun.
1.
Something equivalent; that which is equal in value, worth, weight, or force;
as, to offer an
equivalent
for damage done
.
He owned that, if the Test Act were repealed, the Protestants were entitled to some
equivalent
. . . . During some weeks the word
equivalent
, then lately imported from France, was in the mouths of all the coffeehouse orators.
Macaulay.
2.
(Chem.)
That comparative quantity by weight of an element which possesses the same chemical value as other elements, as determined by actual experiment and reference to the same standard. Specifically:
(a)
The comparative proportions by which one element replaces another in any particular compound; thus, as zinc replaces hydrogen in hydrochloric acid, their equivalents are 32.5 and 1.
(b)
The combining proportion by weight of a substance, or the number expressing this proportion, in any particular compound;
as, the
equivalents
of hydrogen and oxygen in water are respectively 1 and 8, and in hydric dioxide 1 and 16
.
☞ This term was adopted by Wollaston to avoid using the conjectural expression atomic weight, with which, however, for a time it was practically synonymous. The attempt to limit the term to the meaning of a universally comparative combining weight failed, because of the possibility of several compounds of the substances by reason of the variation in combining power which most elements exhibit. The equivalent was really identical with, or a multiple of submultiple of, the atomic weight.
3.
(Chem.)
A combining unit, whether an atom, a radical, or a molecule;
as, in acid salt two or more
equivalents
of acid unite with one or more
equivalents
of base
.

E-quiv′a-lent

,
Verb.
T.
To make the equivalent to; to equal; equivalence.
[R.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Equivalent

EQUIV'ALENT

,
Adj.
Equal in value or worth. In barter, the goods given are supposed to be equivalent to the goods received. Equivalent in value or worth, is tautological.
1.
Equal in force, power or effect. A steam engine may have force or power equivalent to that of thirty horses.
2.
Equal in moral force, cogency or effect on the mind. Circumstantial evidence may be almost equivalent to full proof.
3.
Of the same import or meaning. Friendship and amity are equivalent terms.
For now to serve and to minister, servile and ministerial, are terms equivalent.
Equivalent propositions in logic are called also equipollent.
4.
Equal in excellence or moral worth.

EQUIV'ALENT

,
Noun.
That which is equal in value, weight, dignity or force, with something else. The debtor cannot pay his creditor in money, but he will pay him an equivalent. Damages in money cannot be an equivalent for the loss of a limb.
1.
In chimistry, equivalent is the particular weight or quantity of any substance which is necessary to saturate any other with which it can combine. It is ascertained that chimical combinations are definite, that is, the same body always enters into combination in the same weight, or if it can combine with a particular body in more than one proportion, the higher proportion is always a multiple of the lower.

Definition 2024

equivalent

equivalent

See also: équivalent

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

equivalent ‎(comparative more equivalent, superlative most equivalent)

  1. Similar or identical in value, meaning or effect; virtually equal.
    • South
      For now to serve and to minister, servile and ministerial, are terms equivalent.
    • 2012 March 1, Henry Petroski, “Opening Doors”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 112-3:
      A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place. Applying a force tangential to the knob is essentially equivalent to applying one perpendicular to a radial line defining the lever.
  2. (mathematics) Of two sets, having a one-to-one correspondence; equinumerous.
    • Comprehensive MCQ's in Mathematics, page 3:
      Finite sets A and B are equivalent sets only when n(A) = n(B) i.e., the number of elements in A and B are equal.
    • 1950, E. Kamke, Theory of Sets, page 16:
      All enumerable sets are equivalent to each other, but not to any finite set.
    • 2000, N. L. Carothers, Real Analysis, page 18:
      Equivalent sets should, by rights, have the same "number" of elements. For this reason we sometimes say that equivalent sets have the same cardinality.
    • 2006, Joseph Breuer, Introduction to the Theory of Sets, page 41:
      The equivalence theorem: If both M is equivalent to a subset N1 of N and N is equivalent to a subset M1 of M, then the sets M and N are equivalent to each other.
  3. (mathematics) Relating to the corresponding elements of an equivalence relation.
  4. (chemistry) Having the equal ability to combine.
  5. (cartography) Of a map, equal-area.
  6. (geometry) Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; applied to magnitudes.
    A square may be equivalent to a triangle.

Usage notes

  • In mathematics, this adjective can be used in phrases like "A and B are equivalent", "A is equivalent to B", and, less commonly, "A is equivalent with B".

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

equivalent ‎(plural equivalents)

  1. Anything that is virtually equal to something else, or has the same value, force, etc.
    • Macaulay
      He owned that, if the Test Act were repealed, the Protestants were entitled to some equivalent.
  2. (chemistry) An equivalent weight.

Translations

Verb

equivalent ‎(third-person singular simple present equivalents, present participle equivalenting, simple past and past participle equivalented)

  1. (transitive) To make equivalent to; to equal.

Catalan

Adjective

equivalent m, f ‎(masculine and feminine plural equivalents)

  1. equivalent

Dutch

Pronunciation

Adjective

equivalent ‎(not comparable)

  1. equivalent

Inflection

Inflection of equivalent
uninflected equivalent
inflected equivalente
comparative —
positive
predicative/adverbial equivalent
indefinite m./f. sing. equivalente
n. sing. equivalent
plural equivalente
definite equivalente
partitive equivalents

Etymology

equi- +‎ -valent. From Latin aequivalentem, accusative singular of aequivalēns, present active participle of aequivaleō ‎(“I am equivalent, have equal power”).

Pronunciation

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