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Webster 1913 Edition

Constant

Con′stant

(kŏn′stant)
,
Adj.
[L.
onstans
,
-antis
, p. pr. of
constare
to stand firm, to be consistent;
con-
+
stare
to stand: cf. F.
constant
. See
Stand
and cf.
Cost
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
Firm; solid; fixed; immovable; – opposed to
fluid
.
[Obs.]
If . . . you mix them, you may turn these two fluid liquors into a
constant
body.
Boyle.
2.
Not liable, or given, to change; permanent; regular; continuous; continually recurring; steadfast; faithful; not fickle. Opposite of
changeable
and
variable
.
Both loving one fair maid, they yet remained
constant
friends.
Sir P. Sidney.
I am
constant
to my purposes.
Shakespeare
His gifts, his
constant
courtship, nothing gained.
Dryden.
Onward the
constant
current sweeps.
Longfellow.
3.
(Math. & Physics)
Remaining unchanged or invariable, as a quantity, force, law, etc.
Syn. – Fixed; steadfast; unchanging; permanent; unalterable; immutable; invariable; perpetual; continual; resolute; firm; unshaken; determined.
–
Constant
,
Continual
,
Perpetual
. These words are sometimes used in an absolute and sometimes in a qualified sense. Constant denotes, in its absolute sense, unchangeably fixed; as, a constant mind or purpose. In its qualified sense, it marks something as a “standing” fact or occurence; as, liable to constant interruptions; constantly called for. Continual, in its absolute sense, coincides with continuous. See
Continuous
. In its qualified sense, it describes a thing as occuring in steady and rapid succession; as, a round of continual calls; continually changing. Perpetual denotes, in its absolute sense, what literally never ceases or comes to an end; as, perpetual motion. In its qualified sense, it is used hyperbolically, and denotes that which rarely ceases; as, perpetual disturbance; perpetual noise; perpetual intermeddling.

Con′stant

,
Noun.
1.
That which is not subject to change; that which is invariable.
2.
(Math.)
A quantity that does not change its value; – used in countradistinction to
variable
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Constant

CONSTANT

,
Adj.
[L.]
1.
Fixed; firm; opposed to fluid.
To turn two fluid liquors into a constant body.
[In this sense, not used.]
2.
Fixed; not varied; unchanged; permanent; immutable.
The worlds a scene of changes, and to be constant, in nature were inconstancy.
3.
Fixed or firm in mind, purpose, affection or principle; unshaken; unmoved; as a constant friend or lover.
4.
Certain; steady; firmly adherent; with to; as a man constant to his purpose, or to his duties.

Definition 2024

Constant

Constant

See also: constant

Norman

Proper noun

Constant m

  1. A male given name

constant

constant

See also: Constant

English

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Adjective

constant ‎(comparative more constant, superlative most constant)

  1. Unchanged through time or space; permanent.
  2. Consistently recurring over time; persistent.
    • 2013 November 16, Schumpeter, “The mindfulness business”, in The Economist, volume 409, number 8862:
      The constant pinging of electronic devices is driving many people to the end of their tether. Electronic devices not only overload the senses and invade leisure time. They feed on themselves: the more people tweet the more they are rewarded with followers and retweets.
  3. Steady in purpose, action, feeling, etc.
    • Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586)
      Both loving one fair maid, they yet remained constant friends.
    • William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
      I am constant to my purposes.
    • John Dryden (1631-1700)
      His gifts, his constant courtship, nothing gained.
  4. Firm; solid; not fluid.
    • Robert Boyle (1627-1691)
      If […] you mix them, you may turn these two fluid liquors into a constant body.
  5. (obsolete) Consistent; logical.
    • Shakespeare, Twelfth Night IV.ii
      I am no more mad than you are: make the trial of it with any constant question.

Translations

Noun

constant ‎(plural constants)

  1. That which is permanent or invariable.
  2. (algebra) A quantity that remains at a fixed value throughout a given discussion.
  3. (sciences) Any property of an experiment, determined numerically, that does not change under given circumstances.
  4. (computing) An identifier that is bound to an invariant value; a fixed value given a name to aid in readability of source code.

Translations

Related terms

See also

Catalan

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -ant

Adjective

constant m, f ‎(masculine and feminine plural constants)

  1. constant

Derived terms

Noun

constant f ‎(plural constants)

  1. constant

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kɔ̃s.tɑ̃/
  • Homophone: constants

Adjective

constant m ‎(feminine singular constante, masculine plural constants, feminine plural constantes)

  1. constant

Related terms

Latin

Verb

cōnstant

  1. third-person plural present active indicative of cōnstō

Etymology

From Middle English constant, from Old French constant, from Latin constantem, accusative of constans, from constare ‎(“to stand firm”).

Pronunciation

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