▪ I. coequal, a. and n.
(kəʊˈiːkwəl)
[f. co- 2 and 3 b + equal. Cf. L. coæquālis of equal age, companion in age, and F. coégal.]
A. adj.
1. Equal with († to, unto) one another or others; of the same rank, power, importance, value, etc. (Usually of persons or their attributes.)
| c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 1012 in Babees Bk. 186 Bishoppe Marques & erle coequalle. 1549 Bk. Com. Prayer, Athan. Creed, The whole three Persons be co⁓eternal together and co-equal. 1557 North tr. Gueuara's Diall 180 a/2 We are not coequal vnto them in vertue. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, v. i. 33 If once he come to be a Cardinall, Hee'l make his cap coequall with the Crowne. 1699 Pomfret Poems, On the General Conflagration (R.), Ineffable, coequal three. 1875 Lowell Poet. Wks. (1879) 458 Here were men (co-equal with their fate) Who did great things. 1882 Farrar Early Chr. I. 380 The co-eternal and co-equal Son. |
† 2. Of the same age, coeval. Obs.
| 1607 Schol. Disc. agst. Antichr. i. ii. 111 The highest mentioner of it is Vincentius Tibaritanus, co-equall with Cyprian. |
3. Of equivalent extent, coextensive with.
| 1853 G. Johnston Nat. Hist. E. Bord. I. 2 The district is almost coequal with the ancient bishopric of Lindisfarne. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. I. App. 544 These elements are not coequal with the original substance of the nation. |
B. n.
1. One who is the equal of another.
| 1577 tr. Bullinger's Decades (1592) 680 God calleth the shepheard that is smitten, his fellow or coequall. 1657 W. S. Schism Dispach't 162 A denial of Appeals to Coequals in Authority. a 1864 Landor Wks. (1868) II. 56/2 Conquerors of Time, heirs and coequals of Eternity. |
† 2. One of the same age, a coeval. Obs.
| 1631 Gouge God's Arrows v. §17. 429 Those warlike sports..were practiced by Cyrus when he was a youth, and by his coequals and play-fellowes. |
▪ II. † coˈequal, v. Obs.
[f. the adj.]
1. trans. To be or become coequal with (another).
| 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe (1871) 56 They cannot march cheek by jowl with her, or coequal her. 1604–14 S. Grahame in Farr S.P. Jas. I (1848) 26 That ill Coequals still The greatest ill in hell. |
2. To make equal with (another).
| 1588 J. Harvey Disc. Probleme i. 8 Rabbi Elias..lately coequalled in a manner with the very prophet Eliah himself. 1602 Warner Alb. Eng. ix. lii. (1612) 235 Gods Cou'nant with the Patriarchs and extending to their Seede, Vs Gentiles to coequall, is a Primate of our Creede. |