I. ˈēkwəl adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin aequalis, from aequus level, equal + -alis -al
1.
a.
(1) : of the same measure, quantity, amount, or number as another or others : like
equal quantities of bread for each man
each placed an equal distance from the door
equal pay for equal work
(2) : identical in mathematical value or logical denotation : equivalent — often used with to
set each factor equal to zero
class a is equal to class b if a is included in b and b is included in a — M.R.Cohen & E. Nagel
the temperature there must have been equal to the freezing point of the sea — Valter Schytt
b. : like, as great as, or the same as another or others in degree, worth, quality, nature, ability, or status
held men to be equal in the sight of God
work equal to his best
premature babies … eventually … become equal to children born after a normal time — Morris Fishbein
of equal interest with the first book
specifically : receiving or entitled to the same treatment or privileges any other individual has or is entitled to
all men are created equal — U.S. Declaration of Independence
c. : like, as great, or the same for each member of a group or class
failing to provide equal opportunities
: uniform in quantity or quality, measure or degree
an equal pressure throughout the system
the song of the birds … is not equal as to melody and force — Richard Semon
2. : regarding or affecting all objects in the same way : impartial
in equal care to nourish lord in hall or beast in stall — Sidney Lanier
authors of the past and present should be judged with equal eyes — F.O.Matthiessen
: fair , just
equal laws
3. : free from extremes : equable: as
a. : tranquil of mind or mood : showing tranquillity
with equal mind … they fell upon their swords — Philip Murray †1952
b. : not showing variation in appearance, structure, or proportion
architecture, always hard, logical, and equal — Osbert Sitwell
: level
the equal plains of … Sicily — Elizabeth B. Browning
4.
a. : capable of meeting the requirements of a situation or a task
neither their financial resources nor their military organization were equal to the task — A.C.Flick
: capable of meeting a demand upon one's ability or resources
he was equal to extended walks by this time — T.B.Costain
b. : suitable , commensurate
work not equal to his abilities
5. archaic : not a matter of concern (as between alternatives)
it was equal to him whether he fell by his enemies in the field or by his creditors in the city — Oliver Goldsmith
Synonyms: see same
II. noun
( -s )
1. : one that is equal in status (as social position), achievement, or a particular quality : match
humankind as the law views it is a society of equals — B.N.Cardozo
hardly a man his equal in the field — Elizabeth M. Roberts
he has no equal in common sense and honesty
2. obsolete : contemporary
profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation — Gal 1:14 (Authorized Version)
3. : an equal quantity or number
if equals are taken from equals, the remainders are equal
4. : one of two or more playing cards held by one player that are consecutive or equivalent in rank
III. verb
( equaled or equalled ; equaled or equalled ; equaling or equalling ; equals )
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to compare or regard as equal especially in quality
equaling the pleasures of war to social festivity — Sharon Turner
b. archaic : to make equal especially in ability or condition : equalize
the fair democracy of flowers that equals cot and palace — J.G.Whittier
c. obsolete : to make equal in height (as with the ground) : level
cities have been equaled with the ground — Robert Hill
2. : to be equal to (as in quantity or quality)
the migrant population equaled the native population
for sheer relaxation and comfort I don't know anything to equal it — Keith Munro
specifically : to be identical in value to
two times two equals four
if the curve xy equals the arc AB
— symbol =
3.
a. : to make or produce something equal to
equal that if you can
b. obsolete : to make equal return to
the ardent passion … which if he failed to equal — Henry Fielding
intransitive verb
obsolete : to be equal
we are so a body strong enough, even as we are, to equal with the king — Shakespeare
Synonyms: see match
IV. adverb
obsolete : equally
he is equal ravenous as he is subtle — Shakespeare