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equal - 9 dictionary results
e⋅qual
[ee-kwuh
l] 
adjective, noun, verb, e⋅qualed, e⋅qual⋅ing or (especially British) e⋅qualled, e⋅qual⋅ling.–adjective
| 1. | as great as; the same as (often fol. by to or with): The velocity of sound is not equal to that of light. |
| 2. | like or alike in quantity, degree, value, etc.; of the same rank, ability, merit, etc.: two students of equal brilliance. |
| 3. | evenly proportioned or balanced: an equal contest. |
| 4. | uniform in operation or effect: equal laws. |
| 5. | adequate or sufficient in quantity or degree: The supply is equal to the demand. |
| 6. | having adequate powers, ability, or means: He was equal to the task. |
| 7. | level, as a plain. |
| 8. | tranquil or undisturbed: to confront death with an equal mind. |
| 9. | impartial or equitable. |
–noun
| 10. | a person or thing that is equal. |
–verb (used with object)
| 11. | to be or become equal to; meet or match: So far the rate of production doesn't equal the demand. If A equals B and B equals C, then A equals C. |
| 12. | to make or do something equal to: No matter how he tries, he can't equal his brother's achievements. |
| 13. | Archaic. to make equal; equalize. |
| 14. | Obsolete. to recompense fully. |
Origin:
1350–1400; ME (adj.) < L aequālis equal, like, equiv. to aequ(us) even, plain, just + -ālis -al 1
1350–1400; ME (adj.) < L aequālis equal, like, equiv. to aequ(us) even, plain, just + -ālis -al 1
Synonyms:
2. proportionate, commensurate, coordinate, correspondent. Equal, equivalent, tantamount imply a correspondence between two or more things. Equal indicates a correspondence in all respects or in a particular respect: A dime is equal to 10 cents (that is, in purchasing power). Equivalent indicates a correspondence in one or more respects, but not in all: An egg is said to be the equivalent of a pound of meat in nutritive value. Tantamount, a word of limited application, is used of immaterial things that are equivalent: The prisoner's refusal to answer was tantamount to an admission of guilt. 4. even, uniform, regular, unvarying, invariant. 6. suited, fitted. 10. peer, compeer, match, mate, fellow.
2. proportionate, commensurate, coordinate, correspondent. Equal, equivalent, tantamount imply a correspondence between two or more things. Equal indicates a correspondence in all respects or in a particular respect: A dime is equal to 10 cents (that is, in purchasing power). Equivalent indicates a correspondence in one or more respects, but not in all: An egg is said to be the equivalent of a pound of meat in nutritive value. Tantamount, a word of limited application, is used of immaterial things that are equivalent: The prisoner's refusal to answer was tantamount to an admission of guilt. 4. even, uniform, regular, unvarying, invariant. 6. suited, fitted. 10. peer, compeer, match, mate, fellow.
Antonyms:
2. different. 6. inadequate.
2. different. 6. inadequate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To equal
| e·qual (ē'kwəl) adj.
tr.v. e·qualed or e·qualled, e·qual·ing or e·qual·ling, e·quals
[Middle English, from Latin aequālis, from aequus, even, level.] e'qual·ly adv. Usage Note: It has been argued that equal is an absolute term—two quantities either are or are not equal—and hence cannot be qualified as to degree. Therefore one cannot logically speak of a more equal allocation of resources among the departments. However, this usage was accepted by 71 percent of the Usage Panel in an earlier survey. Objections to the more equal construction rest on the assumption that the mathematical notion of equality is appropriate to the description of a world where the equality of two quantities is often an approximate matter, and where statements of equality are always relative to an implicit standard of tolerance. When someone says The two boards are of equal length, we assume that the equality is reckoned to some order of approximation determined by the context; if we did not, we would be required always to use nearly equal when speaking of the dimensions of physical objects. What is more, we often speak of the equality of things that cannot be measured quantitatively, as when we say The college draft was introduced in an effort to make the teams in the National Football League as equal as possible, or The candidates for the job should all be given equal consideration. In all such cases equality is naturally a gradient notion and can be modified in degree. This much is evident from the existence of the word unequal, for the prefix un- attaches only to gradient adjectives. We say unmanly but not unmale; and the word uneven can be applied to a surface (whose evenness may be a matter of degree) but not to a number (whose evenness is an either/or affair). · The adverb equally is generally regarded as redundant when used in combination with as. In an earlier survey, 63 percent of the Usage Panel found the following examples unacceptably redundant: Experience is equally as valuable as theory. Equally as important is the desire to learn. To eliminate the redundancy, equally should be deleted from the first example and as from the second. The solution to this usage problem usually involves using as alone when a comparison is explicit and equally alone when it is not. See Usage Notes at absolute, as1, center, perfect, unique. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Equal
E"qual\, a. [L. aequalis, fr. aequus even, equal; akin to Skr. ?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. Equal temperament. (Mus.) See Temperament. Syn: Even; equable; uniform; adequate; proportionate; commensurate; fair; just; equitable.Equal
E"qual\, n. 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.Equal
E"qual\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Equaledor 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?urate with. On me whose all not equals Edward's moiety. --Shak. 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's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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equal
c.1391, from L. æqualis "uniform, identical, equal," from æquus "level, even, just," of unknown origin. Parallel formation egal (from O.Fr. egal) was in use 1380-1600s. Equalitarian in reference to the doctrine that all mankind are equal is attested from 1799; equalizer "pistol" is U.S. slang, c.1900.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: equal
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin aequalis, from aequus level, equal
1 : like in quality, nature, or status
2 : like for each member of a group, class, or society
3 : regarding or affecting all objects in the same way : IMPARTIAL
Main Entry: equal
Function: noun
: one that is equal
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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equal
In addition to the idioms beginning with equal, also see other things being equal; separate but equal.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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