equal

▪ I. equal, a. and n.
    (ˈiːkwəl)
    Forms: ? 4 pl. equals, -les, 6–7 æqual(l, equall, 6 equale, 6– equal. See also egall.
    [ad. L. æquālis, f. æqu-us level, even, just.
    As the form of the L. æquus does not permit it to be directly anglicized without the addition of a suffix, the Eng. equal represents the senses of that word as well as those of its derivative æquālis. The OF. equal (orig. a literary adaptation of the L. word, the regular phonetic descendant of which, ewel, ivel, was in popular use) does not seem to have been adopted in Eng.; but its later form egual (esgal), egal became Eng. in 14th c. (see egall), and did not become wholly obs. until the 17th c.]
    A. adj.
    1. a. Of magnitudes or numbers: Identical in amount; neither less nor greater than the object of comparison. Of things: Having the same measure; identical in magnitude, number, value, intensity, etc. Const. to, † with.
    (In this and the next sense often with latent notion of ‘at least equal’; hence not equal to means usually ‘less than’, ‘inferior to’.)

c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. i. §16 A smal croys..aboue the south lyne, þat shewith the 24 howres equals [Lat. æquales] of the clokke. Ibid. ii. §8 To turn the howres in-equales in howres equales [Ad conuertendum horas in-equales in horas equales]. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 676 Three hils, not in equall distaunce, nor yet in equall quantitie. 1587 Golding De Mornay xiv. 212 Y⊇ three inner angles are equal with the two right angles. 1598 Barnfield Compl. Poetrie xxxviii, The wiues of Troy for him made æquall mone. 1628 Digby Voy. Medit. (1868) 3 Then to shewe three lightes of aequall height fore and aft. a 1631 Donne Poems (1650) 8 When with my browne, my gray haires equall be. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 477 Hairy Goats of equal Profit are With Woolly Sheep. 1747 Wesley Prim. Physic (1762) 116 Flower and fine Sugar equal quantities. 1776 Withering Brit. Plants (1796) III. 523 Stamens half as long again as the blossom, nearly equal. 1816 J. Smith Panorama Sc. & Art I. 398 The actions of bodies on each other are always equal. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) II. 223 He had equal equity with the mortgagee for 700l. 1838 T. Thomson Chem. Org. Bodies 656 The number of atoms of hydrogen and oxygen, must..be equal both in amidin and amylin. 1846 G. E. Day tr. Simon's Anim. Chem. II. 237 In both cases they occur in nearly equal ratios. 1858 Lardner Hand-bk. Nat. Phil., Hydrost. 132 If the velocity of the float boards were equal to that of the water.

    b. phr. other things being equal: transl. mod.L. ceteris paribus.

1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 386 All other circumstances being supposed equal. 1889 Sat. Rev. 16 Mar. 318/1 Other things being equal, the chances of any man being hit in action vary..with the rate of fire to which he is exposed.

    † c. Equally reciprocated.

c 1540 tr. Pol. Vergil's Eng. Hist. (Camd.) I. 68, I nothinge desired more ardentlie than the æqual amitte of the Romains.

    2. a. Possessing a like degree of a (specified or implied) quality or attribute; on the same level in rank, dignity, power, ability, achievement, or excellence; having the same rights or privileges. Const. to, with.

1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 13 Where he is now resydent, equall in glory to the father. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, v. i. 89 Vnloose thy long imprisoned thoughts, And let thy tongue be equall with thy heart. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. iii. §9 The ancient custom was to dedicate them [books] only to private and equal friends. 1611 Bible 2 Macc. viii. 30 And made the maimed, orphanes, widowes, yea, & the aged also, equal in spoils with themselves. ― John v. 18 Making himselfe equall with God. a 1631 Donne Paradoxes (1652) 45 We deny soules to others equall to them in all but in speech. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 823 The more to draw his Love, And render me more equal. 1725 Pope Odyss. i. 383 For the chaste Queen select an equal Lord. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) VI. 432 He meant his children to be all equal. 1834 N.Y. Evening Post 4 Apr. 2/2 A war of exclusive privileges against equal rights. 1878 Jevons Prim. Pol. Econ. 56 All men are born free and equal. 1889 C. M. Yonge in Monthly Packet Christmas No., 31 It was of no use to talk to an old wretch like that about social movements and equal rights. 1923 Management Engin. IV. 343/2 Equal Pay, a principle whereby, given a specific occupation, the rate of pay should be the same for both sexes, output being the same. 1956 Ann. Reg. 1955 3 On 25 January Mr. Butler announced that an agreed basis had been found for the introduction of ‘equal pay’ (for both sexes) in the non-industrial civil service.

    b. Music. equal voices: voices either all male or all female. † c. Equivalent; serving the same purpose. Const. as, with. Obs. rare.

1677 A. Yarranton Eng. Improv. 10 Paper in Holland is equal with Moneys in England. Ibid. 13 A Ticket upon such Lands given to the Merchant would be equal to him as ready money.

    3. a. Adequate or fit in quantity or degree. Now only const. to; formerly also simply.

a 1674 Clarendon (J.), The Scotts trusted not their own numbers as equal to fight with the English. 1700 Dryden Fables Ded., To make my commendations equal to your merit. 1719 Watts Hymns i. lxiii, What equal Honours shall we bring To Thee, O Lord. 1791 Hampson Mem. J. Wesley II. 28 Of the conduct of the magistrates..it is impossible to speak in equal terms of severity and indignation.

    b. Adequately fit or qualified. Of persons: Having strength, endurance, or ability adequate to some requirement. Phrase, equal to the occasion.

1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 304 The Soil..Is..equal to the Pasture and the Plough. 1769 Junius Lett. iii. 17 The part you have undertaken is at least as much as you are equal to. 1796 Jane Austen Pride & Prej. vii, She was not equal, however, to much conversation. 1816 Remarks Eng. Mann. 20 He did not feel equal to receiving the congratulations of the company. 1827 Southey Hist. Penins. War II. 124 They were not equal to contend with disciplined troops. 1872 Liddon Elem. Relig. i. 4 Schemes of independent morality..are not equal to resisting the impetuosities of passion. 1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 163 Gescon was equal to the emergency.

    4. a. Of distribution, mixture, etc.: Evenly proportioned. Of rules, laws, conditions, processes, or actions (hence of agents): Affecting all objects in the same manner and degree; uniform in effect or operation (often passing into 5).

1661 Morgan Sph. Gentry i. i 4 Consisting of the equallest mixture or temper of the four elements. 1676 H. Phillips Purch. Patt. A v b, Though this way of valuing the ground be as equal and general a rule as can be; yet, etc. 1696 Whiston Th. Earth i. 36 The equaller Division of the Year allow'd for. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. II. xxxiii. 251 The army dreaded his equal and inexorable justice. 1836 Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) IV. 80 If the Irish were refused equal laws, they would demand the dissolution of the Union. 1840 Gladstone Ch. Princ. 187 The Church contemplates with equal eye the whole of God's ordinances.

    b. Of a contest: Evenly balanced.

1653 Holcroft Procopius i. 22 Two thirds of the day were past, and the fight yet equall.

    † c. phr. it is equal to me (whether): = ‘it makes no difference’, ‘it is all the same’. Obs. Cf. Fr. c'est égal, Ger. es ist mir gleich.

1705–15 Cheyne Philos. Princ. Relig. (J.), They..may let them alone, or reject them; it is equal to me. 1746 Col. Rec. Penn. V. 57 The Governor said it was equal to him when they adjourn'd. 1749 Chesterfield Lett. II. cxcvi. 237 Whether along the coast of the Adriatic, or that of the Mediterranean, it is equal to me. 1769 Goldsm. Rom. Hist. (1786) II. 206 It was equal to him whether he fell by his enemies in the field, or by his creditors in the city.

    d. equal opportunity, the opportunity or right to be employed or considered for employment without prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, physical or mental handicap, etc. In earlier wider use: see equality of opportunity s.v. opportunity 2 c. Also equal opportunities and as attrib. phr.; equal-opportunity employer (orig. U.S.), one who professes not to discriminate against applicants or employees on such grounds.

1925 D. H. Lawrence Refl. Death Porcupine 155 They talk about ‘equal opportunity’: but it is bunk, ridiculous bunk. It is the old fable of the fox asking the stork to dinner. 1963 N.Y. Times 22 July 14/5 Mr. Screvane proposed to the Board of Estimate that $3,400,000,000 in city pension funds be invested only in securities of equal-opportunity employers. 1972 Ibid. 3 Nov. L/9 N.Y. Hilton..An equal opportunity employer. 1973 Black Panther 3 Mar. c/2 Those racist tenant businesses located at the Port of Oakland can and must be..made to apply the ‘equal opportunity’ and ‘affirmative action’ guidelines. 1977 B. Pym Quartet in Autumn ix. 79 ‘Equal opportunities!’ said Norman. ‘That's one of the things we men prefer to leave to the ladies.’ 1979 Tucson (Arizona) Daily Citizen 3 Oct. 17a/1 (Advt.), We are an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F. 1984 Times Educ. Suppl. 30 Nov. 11/2 It may also recommend giving one governor on each body special responsibility for equal opportunities.

    † 5. In sense of L. æquus: Fair, equitable, just, impartial. Obs.

1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 503 Equale in justice but partialitie. 1545 Leland in Strype Eccl. Mem. I. App. cxviii. 332 My great labours..have profyted the studyous, gentyl, and equal reders. 1592 Greene Groatsw. Wit (1617) 42 Equal heauen hath denied that comfort. 1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ Answ. §5 (1653) 22 This had been no more rationall or equall then the former. 1656 Bramhall Replic. iv. 188 Is it equall that the Court of Rome themselves should be the Judges? 1681 Relig. Clerici To Rdr. 1 To the equal Reader. 1769 Robertson Chas. V, III. xi. 354 Proposals of peace which were equal and moderate.

    6. Of surfaces: Level, on the same level (arch.). † equal to: level with.

a 1649 Drummond of Hawthornden Jas. V Wks. 116 The most part of the church was made equal to the ground. 1715 Leoni Palladio's Archit. (1742) I. 27 All the Rooms..of the same Story, may have their Floor or Pavement equal. 1850 Mrs. Browning Poems I. 156 The equal plains of fruitful Sicily.

    † 7. a. Uniform throughout in appearance, dimensions, or properties Obs.

1663 Gerbier Counsel 50 A rooff covered with them is of an equall colour. 1686 W. Aglionby Painting Illustr. iii. 107 The Painter must observe an equal Air, so as not to make one part Musculous and Strong, and the other Soft and Tender. 1691 T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent 98 A Sheet of their full length equal within one pound in ten quite through. 1726 Leoni Alberti's Archit. II. 18 a, Large Stones, sound, equal, handsome and rare. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §246 That the building should be a column of equal strength, proportionate in every part to the stress it was likely to bear.

    b. Bot. Symmetrical, having both sides alike.

1876 Balfour in Encycl. Brit. IV. 1110 When the parenchyma is developed symmetrically on each side of the midrib or stalk, the leaf is equal.

    8. Of movements, pressure, heat, light, etc.: Even, free from fluctuation in rate or intensity. rare. (With this and the next sense cf. equable 1.)

1626 Bacon Sylva (1677) §392 Try them by boiling upon an equal fire. 1691 Ray Creation i. (1704) 71 These Revolutions..are as exactly equal and uniform as the Earth's are. 1761 Earl Pembroke Mil. Equitation (1778) 63 Even or equal trot. 1821 Shelley Prometh. Unb. iii. iv. 88 Thy chaste sister Who guides the frozen and inconstant moon Will look on thy more warm and equal light.

    9. Of the mind, temper, demeanour, tone of voice: Even, tranquil, undisturbed, unruffled. arch.

1680 Otway Orphan ii. vii. 759 Who can hear this and bear an equal mind? a 1700 Dryden (J.), An equal temper in his mind he found, When fortune flatter'd him, and when she frown'd. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. III. 9 He proceeded, in a firm and equal tone, to offer Theodosius the alternative of peace, or war. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xxii, He addressed him in a tone tolerably equal. 1832 Tennyson Lotos-Eaters 153 Let us swear an oath, and keep it with an equal mind.

    † 10. Of numbers: Even. Obs. rare. Cf. L. par.

1806 G. Gregory Dict. Arts & Sc. s.v. Bridge, The piers of stone bridges should be equal in number, that there may be one arch in the middle.

    † 11. quasi-adv. Equally. Obs.

1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, i. i. 159 He is equall rau'nous As he is subtile. 1623 Massinger Dk. Milan ii. i, Thou art A thing, that, equal with the devil himself, I do detest. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. iv. xv, Therefore obtain'd an equall distant seat. 1659 Dryden Cromwell v, Where all the parts so equal-perfect are.

    12. Comb. a. parasynthetic derivatives, as equal-armed, equal-blooded, equal-eyed equal-headed, equal-limbed, equal-sided, equal-souled. Also equal-handedness. b. adverbial, as equal-balanced, equal-poised, equal-suited.

1833 J. Holland Manuf. Metal II. 286 The *equal-armed balance, so commonly seen in this country. 1881 Athenæum 23 Apr. 567/1 At the top is an equal-armed cross.

1678 Norris Coll. Misc. (1699) 312 If the Good and the Evil be *equal-ballanc'd.

1764 Churchill Ep. Hogarth Poems II. 135 Thou *equal-blooded judge.

1876 Swinburne Erechth. (ed. 2) 677 Toward good and ill, then, *equal-eyed of soul.

1830 Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) I. 280 A government of so much benevolence and *equal-handedness.

1889 G. Findlay Eng. Railway 42 In 1837 the double and *equal-headed reversible rail was originated by Joseph Locke.

1855 Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) IX. xiv. viii. 278 The short *equal-limbed Greek cross.

1635 Swan Spec. M. (1670) 170 The rising and falling of an *equal-poised balance. 1850 Tennyson In Mem. lxxxv, O friendship, equal-poised control.

1807 T. Thomson Chem. (ed. 3) II. 571 Four-sided prisms, terminated by *equal-sided pyramids.

1876 Swinburne Erechth. (ed. 2) 676 Nor thine nor mine, but *equal-souled are they.

1590 Greene Orl. Fur. Wks. (1861) 102 The lilies and the native rose Sit *equal-suited with a blushing red.

    B. n.
    1. One who is equal to another: a. in rank or standing.

1573 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden Soc.) 4 M. Nevil hath shown himself disdainful towards his æquals and superiors too. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado ii. i. 171 She is no equall for his birth. 1614 J. Day Festivals (1615) 322 First, that they match with their Equals as neere as may be, both in Condition or State of Life, as also in Yeers. a 1640 Earl Stirling Jonathan (R.), You (though subjects) may my equals make. 1754 Chatham Lett. Nephew v. 38 Towards equals, nothing becomes a man so well as well-bred ease. 1844 H. H. Wilson Brit. India II. 468 The Governor-General, whom, as exercising a delegated authority only, he refused to recognise as the equal of a king. 1877 Mozley Univ. Serm. ix. 194 Humility is much more tried by equals than it is by inferiors.

    b. in power or achievement, or in any specified quality; a ‘match’.

1607 Shakes. Cor. i. i. 257 Was euer man so proud as is this Martius? He has no equall. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 248 Satan..Prodigious power had shewn, and met in Armes No equal. 1792 Anecd. W. Pitt IV. App. 270 A minister who never had his equal..for wisdom and integrity. 1875 Fortnum Maiolica iv. 43 Orazio had no equal in the execution of his paintings.

    † c. in age: (a) One who has lived as long; (b) A contemporary. Cf. L. æquālis. Obs.

1596 Harington Metam. Ajax (1814) 110 That I may now deal with my ancients and not with my equals. 1611 Bible Gal. i. 14 And profited in the Iewes Religion, aboue many my equals in mine owne nation. 1678 Cudworth Intell. Syst. i, iv. 443 A Sophist Plutarch's equal.

    2. abstr. an equal: a state of equality; an equal footing. Obs. exc. dial.

1596 Spenser F.Q. v. ii. 34 Thou that presum'st to weigh the world anew, And all things to an equall to restore. Mod. (Derbysh.) He talks to me as if we were on an equal.

▪ II. equal, v.
    (ˈiːkwəl)
    [f. prec.; cf. Fr. égaler.]
    1. To make equal, equalize; to bring to the same level. Const. with, or simply. arch.

1594 Daniel Cleopatra Ded, Wherby great Sidney & our Spencer might, With those Po singers being equalled, Enchaunt the world. 1611 Bible 2 Sam. xxii. 34 He maketh my feet like [marg. equalleth] hinds' feet. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 248 Him.. Whom reason hath equald, force hath made supream Above his equals. Ibid. iii. 33 Those other two equal'd with me in Fate. 1687 Dryden Hind & P. i. 456 Rebellion equals all. 1705 Stanhope Paraphr. I. 52 Persons equalled in the Favour of God. 1868 Whittier Among the Hills xvii, The fair democracy of flowers That equals cot and palace.

    † b. To proportion. Obs.

1618 Latham 2nd Bk. Falconry (1633) 24 Compare or equall so your meat with the length or shortnesse of time, as that she shall neuer be ouer emptie, yet, etc.

    † c. To make (ground) level: to level (a building) to, with the ground; to make (a ditch) level by filling up. Obs.

1629 R. Hill Pathw. Piety (1849) II. 45 The goodliest cities have been equalled with the ground. a 1649 Drummond of Hawthornden Jas. III Wks. 39 The fortress..is demolished and equal'd with the ground. 1681 R. Knox Hist. Ceylon (1817) 89 He employs his people..equalling unequal grounds. 1715 Leoni Palladio's Archit. (1742) II. 61 Equalling Ditches with raised or even Ground.

    † 2. To consider or represent as equal; to liken, compare. Obs.

1586 T. Rogers 39 Art. 78 To them, which with Gods word do equal their own doctrines, etc. 1635 E. Pagitt Christianogr. i. iii. (1636) 89 Their Dogmaticall Traditions, which they Equall with the holy Scriptures. a 1672 Sterry Freed. Will (1675) 150 As equalling God in savage cruelness to the most arbitrary Tyrants. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 114 ¶9 To equal robbery with murder, is to reduce murder to robbery. 1799–1805 S. Turner Anglo-Sax. I. iv. iii. 282 Not content with equalling the pleasures of war to social festivity.

    3. trans. To be or become equal to; to ‘come up to’, match, rival.

1590 Marlowe 2nd Pt. Tamburl. v. iii, Let earth and heaven his timeless death deplore, For both their worths will equal him no more. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, i. ii. 249 On me [Richard], whose All not equals Edwards Moytie? 1611 Bible Job xxviii. 17 The golde and the chrystall cannot equall it. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 40 He trusted to have equal'd the most High, If he oppos'd. 1792 Anecd. W. Pitt IV. App. 268 He came very young into Parliament, and..soon equalled the oldest and ablest actors. 1812 Sir H. Davy Chem. Philos. 106 The weight of the carbonic acid gas exactly equals the weight of carbonic oxide and the oxygene gas. 1826 Scott F.M. Perth xxxiv, There are enough of brave men around me, whom I may imitate if I cannot equal. 1876 Green Short Hist. vii. 355 The courage of the Queen..was only equalled by her terrible revenge. 1880 Haughton Phys. Geog. vi. 281 They nearly equalled the elephant in size.

    4. To produce or achieve something equal to, to match. † Also intr. To cope on equal terms with (obs. rare).

1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, i. iii. 67, I thinke we are a Body strong enough (Euen as we are) to equall with the King. c 1610 Women Saints (1886) 154 It is a difficult matter, to equall my sisters vertues with my speache. a 1745 W. Broome To Pope 26 A rival hand recalls from ev'ry part Some latent grace, and equals art with art. a 1832 Mackintosh Machiavel Wks. 1846 II. 480 Historical genius had risen..to a height which has not been equalled among the same nation in times of greater refinement.

    b. To reciprocate in equal measure.

1697 Dryden, tr. Virgil æneid vi. 641 [She] sought Sicheus, through the shady grove, Who answer'd all her Cares, and equal'd all her Love. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones xiii. ix, The ardent passion..the extreme violence of which if he failed to equal, etc.

Oxford English Dictionary