▪ I. resultant, n.
(rɪˈzʌltənt)
[See next.]
† 1. Arith. The total or sum. Obs. rare.
| c 1430 Art Nombryng 4 The resultant 10. To whom it shalle be addede 7. The nombre to be addede 3. |
2. Mech. That force which is the equivalent of two or more forces acting from different directions at one point. Also generally, the composite or final effect of any two or more physical forces.
| 1815 O. Gregory Mechanics (ed. 3) I. ii. 31 The resultant is situated in a plane perpendicular to the axis. 1836 Whewell Mechanics ii. (ed. 5) 24 If two forces act in opposite directions, the resultant will be the difference of the two, and in the direction of the greater. 1842 Black Homœopathy iv. 53 All action in the living body is the resultant of two co-efficients. 1856 Orr's Circle Sci., Mech. Phil. 173 To determine the resultant of all the pressures of a fluid. 1879 Prescott Sp. Telephone 18 Its motion will be the resultant of all the sound waves. |
b. transf. of other than physical forces.
| 1848 H. Rogers Ess. (1860) III. 319 The conflict between the two opposite forces will probably compel our statesmen to move in the path of their resultant. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) II. 192 The resultant, not of the victory of either of the extreme parties, but of the joint action of their opposing forces. 1874 Stubbs Const. Hist. I. i. 1 The resultant of three forces, whose reciprocal influences are constant, subtle, and intricate. |
c. The product or outcome of something.
| 1847 Helps Friends in C. (1851) I. 9 See of how large a portion of the character truth is the resultant. 1871 Tylor Prim. Cult. I. 12 Collective social action is the mere resultant of many individual actions. 1890 Humphry Old Age 30 Most of these habits..are the resultants of health, as well as the promoters of it. |
3. Math. (See quot. 1856.)
| 1856 A. Cayley in Phil. Trans. CXLVI. 636 The function of the coefficients, which, equalled to zero, expresses the result of the elimination.., is said to be the Resultant of the system of quantics. The resultant is an invariant of the system of quantics. 1860 H. J. S. Smith in Rep. Brit. Assoc. (1861) 162 If R be the Resultant of ϕ1(χ) and ϕ2(χ), [etc.]. 1867 Brande & Cox Dict. Sci. III. 266/1. 1881 [see eliminant B]. |
▪ II. resultant, a.
(rɪˈzʌltənt)
[ad. L. resultant-em, pres. pple. of resultāre: see result v. and -ant. So F. résultant, It., Sp., and Pg. resultante.]
† 1. Issuing or shining by reflection. Obs.
| 1615 T. Adams Spiritual Navigators 45 Seeing the resultant light of the starres shining in the water about him. 1661 R. Burney K. Chas. presented 4 §2 'Tis a beam resultant from Gods Majestie, and reflects upon the people for their good. |
2. That results, resulting; consequent.
| 1639 Ld. Digby Lett. conc. Relig. (1651) 112 Accepting alike the Faith resultant from the dark mists of the Ignorant, and from the clearest intelligence of the Learned. 1672 Boyle Orig. Gems Postscr., By reason of the figure of the resultant corpuscles. 1855 Bailey Mystic 24 All soul-sin seems a missing of the mark Resultant from imperfect force or aim. 1856 Orr's Circle Sci., Mech. Phil. 173 If this simple resultant pressure act upward [etc.]. 1882 Farrar Early Chr. II. 275 The overthrow of the tenth part of the city, and the resultant terror and repentance. |
b. resultant axis, resultant point: (see quots.).
| 1831 Brewster Optics xxiii. 204 The lines or axes along which there is no double refraction or polarisation..have been called optical axes..or resultant axes. 1876 Preece & Sivewright Telegraphy 203 That point where the whole force which it is intended to counteract may be supposed to be collected..is known in mechanics as the resultant point. |
c. resultant note or resultant tone: (see second quot.).
| 1876 tr. Blaserna's Sound v. 82 Those notes..to which the name of resultant notes or sometimes difference notes is usually given. 1876 Bernstein Five Senses 280 When two tones are sounded together, tones of an entirely new nature are produced, which have been called resultant tones. 1898 T. Elliston Organs (ed. 3) 52 The Quint stop, combined with the 16 ft., gives a resultant undertone of 32 ft. pitch. |
Hence reˈsultantly adv.
| 1865 Bushnell Vicar. Sacrif. iii. iii. 234 The retributive causes go their way and do their work, not arrested in their action, but only qualified resultantly. |