Obs. Also 5–6 egalle, 6 eguall, 6 egal. [a. OF. egal (esgal, igal, mod.F. égal):—L. æquālem EQUAL.] = EQUAL. Also quasi-sb.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 88. To have right as you list comfort, Under your yerde egall to mine offence.
c. 1450. Crt. of Love, 1041. Thy birth and hers they be nothing egall.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhetorique, 109. Eguall members [of a sentence] are such, when [etc.].
1555. Instit. Gentleman, D. Makyng those their egalles whyche ought to be their inferiors.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., IV. iv. 4. An Emperour … Confronted thus, and for the extent Of egall [Ff. 2. 3. 4 equal] iustice, vs’d in such contempt?
1594. West, Symbol, II. Chancerie § 28. Ministers of Justice … frame their judgments after the square and rule of good and egall.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. iv. 13. Companions Whose soules doe beare an egal [Q. equal] yoke of loue.
Hence † Egally adv., equally, evenly; with even judgment or temper; Egalness, equality.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., II. iv. 43. Wiþ hem þat every fortune receyuen agreablely or egaly.
c. 1450. Crt. of Love, 365. Egally to discerne Betwene the lady and thine ability.
1526. Tindale, 2 Cor. viii. 14. That ther be egalnes now at this tyme, that youre aboundaunce sucker their lacke.
1561. Norton & Sackv., Gorboduc, I. ii. (1565), A vij b.
| And suche an egalnes hath nature made, | |
| Betwene the Brethren of one Fathers seede. |
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., III. vii. 213. Your tendernesse … to your Kindred, And egally indeede to all Estates.
1621. Bolton, Stat. Irel., 157 (28 Hen. VIII.). The other part thereof egally to be devided amongst them.
