a. Also 7–8 æquable. [ad. L. æquābilis, f. æquāre to make level or equal, f. æquus equal.]
1. Uniform, free from fluctuation or variation.
a. Of motions or continuous phenomena: Maintaining a constant level of speed or intensity. † Also of periods of time: Uniform in duration.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., II. ix. 224. 25 Apocatastases annorum, which amounted to 36525 equable Years.
1726. trans. Gregory’s Astron., I. III. 405. The apparent Motion of the Sun will be equable.
1799. Med. Jrnl., I. 279. The pulse slower, more uniform and equable.
1808. J. Webster, Nat. Phil., 29. Its parallels express the equable time of motion.
1811. A. T. Thomson, Lond. Disp. (1818), Introd. 28. Mercury is the liquid best adapted for thermometers; its expansion being most equable.
1812. Woodhouse, Astron., xviii. 188. Kepler’s discovery of the equable description of areas.
1850. Grote, Greece, II. lvi. (1862), V. 72. The slow, solemn, and equable march of the troops.
b. Of temperature: Free from extremes (or sudden changes) of heat and cold.
1807. Med. Jrnl., XVII. 292. Those parts of the kingdom, where they may enjoy the most equable state of temperature.
1860. Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea, xvii. § 728. Thus the equable climates of Western Europe are accounted for.
c. Of the feelings, mind, temper, etc.: Even, not easily disturbed. Of a course of events: Free from vicissitudes, tranquil. Of literary style: Maintaining a constant level, uniform.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, Wks. 1842, II. 341/1. It [military ardour] is a cool, steady, deliberate principle, always present, always equable.
1814. Wordsw., Laodamia, xvii. In worlds whose course is equable and pure.
1836. J. H. Newman, Par. Serm. (1837), III. xxiii. 375. A calm and equable piety.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 468. His [Tillotson’s] oratory was more correct and equable than theirs.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. Pref. p. xii. It [a translation] should be … equable in style.
1876. Black, Madcap Violet, xvi. 140. An equable temper is the greatest gift a man can possess.
2. Free from inequalities; uniform throughout its extent or range of operation; equally proportioned.
1692. Bentley, Boyle Lect., viii. Wks. 1838, III. 193. They would have the vast body of a planet … to be every where smooth and equable.
1812. Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 233. Elastic fluids have a tendency to rapid equable mixture.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, V. xlii. 205. A new valuation … with a view to a more equable system of taxation.
1845. Carlyle, Cromwell, II. viii. 69. A more equable division of representatives.
1847. Disraeli, Tancred, II. III. iv. 41. A rich subdued and equable tint overspread this visage.
1854. Ronalds & Richardson, Chem. Technol. (ed. 2), I. 205. A channel of equable diameter.
† 3. Characterized by justice or fairness; = EQUITABLE. Obs.
1642. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., II. § 13. 153. Becomming equable to others, I become unjust to my self. [Cf. quot. 1839 s.v. EQUABLY.]
