Forms: 4–6 equalite, (5 equalyte, eqwalyte), 6 equaltie, equalitie, -llitie, (6 æqualitie, 7 -ty,) 6– equality. See also EGALITY. [a. OF. équalité (mod.Fr. égalité), ad. L. æquālitāt-em, f. æquālis EQUAL.] The quality or condition of being equal.
1. The condition of being equal in quantity, amount, value, intensity, etc.
c. 1400. Beryn, 2734. Of hete & eke of coldnes of oon equalite.
1530. Palsgr., 217/1. Equalite, egallité, evynnesse.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., III. III. (Arb.), 147. The equalitie of the daye and nyght.
1635. N. Carpenter, Geog. Del., II. xiv. 221. Reduce to any shadow of Æquality.
1657. Earl Monm., trans. Paruta’s Pol. Disc., 200. God, by whom … the earth it self is sustained and held up with a miraculous equality of weight.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, XX. 572. Pleading equality of years.
1831. Brewster, Optics, ii. 19. In approaching the mirror, the image and object approach to equality.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. iii. 245. Will the exhausting of the tube disturb the equality?
1870. Rolleston, Anim. Life, 122. The ganglia do not maintain the same numerical equality.
b. esp. in Math. The exact correspondence between magnitudes and numbers in respect of quantity, the existence of which is sometimes expressed by the sign =.
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, I. def. 32. 5. This figure [rhombus] agreeth with a square, as touching the equallitie of lines.
1772. J. H. Moore, Pract. Navig. (1828), 4. = The Sign of Equality; it shows that the numbers or quantities placed before it are equal to those following it.
1846. Mill, Logic, I. iii. § 11. Equality; which is but another word for the exact resemblance commonly called identity, considered as subsisting between things in respect of their quantity.
2. The condition of having equal dignity, rank or privileges with others; the fact of being on an equal footing.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., I. Prob. 60. Suppos hys Lordschype lyk noucht be Tyl gret statys in eqwalytè.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 199. But all iii persones one god, of one substaunce, & of inseperable equalite.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., I. iii. 47. Equality of two Domesticke powers, Breed scrupulous faction.
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 26. Not content With faire equalitie, fraternal state.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 225, ¶ 3. Equality is the Life of Conversation.
1794. Southey, Wat Tyler. Ye are all equal; nature made you so. Equality is your birth-right.
1874. Micklethwaite, Mod. Par. Churches, 30. The feeling of perfect equality inside the church.
b. The condition of being equal in power, ability, achievement or excellence. Also (rarely), the condition of being ‘equal to an emergency.’
1595. Shaks., John, II. i. 327. The on-set and retyre Of both your Armies, whose equality By our best eyes cannot be censured.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., 33–4. The confidence of his own equality with those whom he deem’d most worthy of his praise.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xxxiv. They fought with an equality.
1879. G. W. Curtis, Sp. New Eng. Soc. Dinner. With their equality to the emergency the Pilgrim Fathers would have lived in the best houses.
† 3. In persons: Fairness, impartiality, equity. b. In things: Due proportion, proportionateness.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (1835), 12. Shap and colour and eche feture Were comproporcyond in swych equalyte.
1552. Huloet, s.v., Equalitie of lawes, wher thei be to al degrees indifferente.
1556. J. Heywood, Spider & F., lvi. 44. In hering of him what equaltie ye show.
1692. Ray, Dissol. World, 232. The breaking of order and equality in the world.
1845. McCulloch, Taxation (1852), Introd. 18. Equality is of the essence of such taxes.
4. Evenness of surface; uniformity of size or shape; level position. Also of movements or processes: Evenness, regularity, uniformity in rate or degree. Now somewhat rare.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIII. xxiii. (Tollem. MS.). The see is calde ‘equor,’ and haþ þat name of equalite, evennesse.
1590. Sir J. Smythe, Disc. Weapons, 4 b. All the points of the Piques of euerie rancke carrying one equalitie.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 172. Sometimes a Bone, so pressed down, settles to his natural equality.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 25. The equality of its Motion … without any fits or starts.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., 95. The Plumber’s vain pretence to near Equality, and endeavour to cast as equal as he can.
1834. Ht. Martineau, Farrers, iv. 73. The equality of wear of a piece of gingham or calico.
† 5. fig. Of the body: An even condition or temper. Of the mind: Evenness, equability. Obs.
1460–70. Bk. Quintessence, II. 20. It consumeth the corrupt superflue humouris, and reducit nature to equalite.
1647. Charles I., Decl. Jan. 18, Wks. (1662), 281. Patience and a great Equality of Mind.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 143, ¶ 4. To enjoy Life and Health as a constant Feast, we should … arrive at an Equality of Mind.
a. 1762. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., lxxiv. 121. You would find an easy equality of temper you do not expect.
