Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Equal

E′qual

,
Adj.
[L.
aequalis
, fr.
aequus
even, equal; akin to Skr.
[GREEK]ka
, and perh. to L.
unus
for older
oinos
one, E.
one
.]
1.
Agreeing in quantity, size, quality, degree, value, etc.; having the same magnitude, the same value, the same degree, etc.; – applied to number, degree, quantity, and intensity, and to any subject which admits of them; neither inferior nor superior, greater nor less, better nor worse; corresponding; alike;
as,
equal
quantities of land, water, etc.
; houses of equal size; persons of equal stature or talents; commodities of equal value.
2.
Bearing a suitable relation; of just proportion; having competent power, abilities, or means; adequate;
as, he is not
equal
to the task
.
The Scots trusted not their own numbers as
equal
to fight with the English.
Clarendon.
It is not permitted to me to make my commendations
equal
to your merit.
Dryden.
Whose voice an
equal
messenger
Conveyed thy meaning mild.
Emerson.
3.
Not variable; equable; uniform; even;
as, an
equal
movement
.
“An equal temper.”
Dryden.
4.
Evenly balanced; not unduly inclining to either side; characterized by fairness; unbiased; impartial; equitable; just.
Are not my ways
equal
?
Ezek. xviii. 29.
Thee, O Jove, no
equal
judge I deem.
Spenser.
Nor think it
equal
to answer deliberate reason with sudden heat and noise.
Milton.
5.
Of the same interest or concern; indifferent.
They who are not disposed to receive them may let them alone or reject them; it is
equal
to me.
Cheyne.
6.
(Mus.)
Intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all female; – opposed to
mixed
.
[R.]
7.
(Math.)
Exactly agreeing with respect to quantity.
Syn. – Even; equable; uniform; adequate; proportionate; commensurate; fair; just; equitable.

E′qual

,
Noun.
1.
One not inferior or superior to another; one having the same or a similar age, rank, station, office, talents, strength, or other quality or condition; an equal quantity or number;
as, “If
equals
be taken from
equals
the remainders are equal
.”
Those who were once his
equals
envy and defame him.
Addison.
2.
State of being equal; equality.
[Obs.]
Spenser.

E′qual

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Equaled
or
Equalled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Equaling
or
Equalling
.]
1.
To be or become equal to; to have the same quantity, the same value, the same degree or rank, or the like, with; to be commen[GREEK]urate with.
On me whose all not
equals
Edward’s moiety.
Shakespeare
2.
To make equal return to; to recompense fully.
Who answered all her cares, and
equaled
all her love.
Dryden.
3.
To make equal or equal to; to equalize; hence, to compare or regard as equals; to put on equality.
He would not
equal
the mind that he found in himself to the infinite and incomprehensible.
Berkeley.

Webster 1828 Edition

Equal

E'QUAL

,
Adj.
[L. oegualis, from oequus, equal, even, oeguo, to equal, perhaps Gr. similar.]
1.
Having the same magnitude or dimensions; being of the same bulk or extent; as an equal quantity of land; a house of equal size; two persons of equal bulk; an equal line or angle.
2.
Having the same value; as two commodities of equal price or worth.
3.
Having the same qualities or condition; as two men of equal rank or excellence; two bodies of equal hardness or softness.
4.
Having the same degree; as two motions of equal velocity.
5.
Even; uniform; not variable; as an equal temper or mind.
Ye say, the way of the Lord is not equal. Ezek. 16.
6.
Being in just proportion; as, my commendation is not equal to his merit.
7.
Impartial; neutral; not biased.
Equal and unconcerned, I look on all.
8.
Indifferent; of the same interest or concern. He may receive them or not, it is equal to me.
9.
Just; equitable; giving the same or similar rights or advantages. The terms and conditions of the contract are equal.
10. Being on the same terms; enjoying the same or similar benefits.
They made the married, orphans, widows, yea and the aged also, equal in spoils with themselves.
11. Adequate; having competent power, ability or means. The ship is not equal to her antagonist. The army was not equal to the contest. We are not equal to the undertaking.

E'QUAL

,
Noun.
One not inferior or superior to another; having the same or a similar age, rank, station, office, talents, strength, &c.
Those who were once his equals, envy and defame him.
It was thou, a man my equal, my guide. Ps.55. Gal.1

E'QUAL

,
Verb.
T.
To make equal; to make one thing of the same quantity, dimensions or quality as another.
1.
To rise to the same state, rank or estimation with another; to become equal to. Few officers can expect to equal Washington in fame.
2.
To be equal to.
One whose all not equals Edward's moiety.
3.
To make equivalent to; to recompense fully; to answer in full proportion.
He answer'd all her cares, and equal'd all her love.
4.
To be of like excellence or beauty.
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it. Job.28.

Definition 2024

equal

equal

See also: Equal.

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

equal ‎(comparative more equal, superlative most equal)

  1. (not comparable) The same in all respects.
    Equal conditions should produce equal results.‎
    All men are created equal.‎
    • George Cheyne (1671-1743)
      They who are not disposed to receive them may let them alone or reject them; it is equal to me.
  2. (mathematics, not comparable) Exactly identical, having the same value.
    All right angles are equal.‎
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 10, in The Celebrity:
      The skipper Mr. Cooke had hired at Far Harbor was a God-fearing man with a luke warm interest in his new billet and employer, and had only been prevailed upon to take charge of the yacht after the offer of an emolument equal to half a year's sea pay of an ensign in the navy.
  3. (obsolete) Fair, impartial.
    • 1644, John Milton, Aeropagitica:
      it could not but much redound to the lustre of your milde and equall Government, when as private persons are hereby animated to thinke ye better pleas'd with publick advice, then other statists have been delighted heretofore with publicke flattery.
    • Bible, Ezekiel xviii. 29
      Are not my ways equal?
    • Edmund Spenser (c.1552–1599)
      Thee, O Jove, no equal judge I deem.
  4. (comparable) Adequate; sufficiently capable or qualified.
    This test is pretty tough, but I think I'm equal to it.‎
    • 1881, Jane Austen, Emma, page 311
      her comprehension was certainly more equal to the covert meaning, the superior intelligence, of those five letters so arranged.
    • Earl of Clarendon (1609-1674)
      The Scots trusted not their own numbers as equal to fight with the English.
    • John Dryden (1631-1700)
      It is not permitted to me to make my commendations equal to your merit.
    • Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
      […] whose voice an equal messenger / Conveyed thy meaning mild.
  5. (obsolete) Not variable; equable; uniform; even.
    an equal movement‎
  6. (music) Intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all female; not mixed.

Usage notes

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

Synonyms

Translations

Verb

equal ‎(third-person singular simple present equals, present participle (UK) equalling or (US) equaling, simple past and past participle (UK) equalled or (US) equaled)

  1. (mathematics) To be equal to, to have the same value as; to correspond to.
    Two plus two equals four.
  2. To be equivalent to; to match
    • 2004, Mary Levy and Jim Kelly, Marv Levy: Where Else Would You Rather Be?
      There was an even more remarkable attendance figure that underscores the devotion exhibited by our fans, because it was in 1991 that they set a single season in-stadium attendance record that has never been equaled.
    David equaled the water level of the bottles, so they now both contain exactly 1 liter.
  3. (informal) To have as its consequence.
    Losing this deal equals losing your job.
    Might does not equal right.

Synonyms

Translations

Noun

equal ‎(plural equals)

  1. A person or thing of equal status to others.
    We're all equals here.
    This beer has no equal.
    • Addison
      Those who were once his equals envy and defame him.
  2. (obsolete) State of being equal; equality.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)

Synonyms

  • (person or thing of equal status to others): peer

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: Roman · wise · watch · #866: equal · afternoon · picture · study

Anagrams

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin aequālis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈiːkwəl/
  • Rhymes: -iːkwəl

Similar Results