v. Also 7–8 equallize, (7 egalise). [f. EQUAL + -IZE. Cf. Fr. égaliser.]
I. To equal, match.
† 1. trans. To be or become equal to; to come up to, match, rival; = EQUAL v. 3. Obs.
15[?]. Tom Thumb, 136, in Hazl., E. P. P., II. 239. Sir Tom Thomb, for thy fame, None can thee equalize.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. ix. 44. But a third kingdom … Both first and second Troy shall dare to equalise.
1595. Locrine, IV. i. 169. The Scythians … Do equalize the grass in multitude.
1626. L. Owen, Spec. Jesuit. (1629), 19. In all seauen, equalizing the number of the Planets.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 53. The order and scituation of this Fort and Fabricke, equalizing if not preceding any other in Persia.
1701. trans. Le Clerc’s Prim. Fathers, 68. The Elegancy and Nobleness of their Style, which never any Philosopher could equalize.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 84. Fur … ought to have a greater Substance to equallize the strength of Oak.
1725. Collier, Disc. Pract. Subj., 346. For by affecting to equalize a superior wealth, they are apt to make their own Figure too large.
1774. Pennant, Tour Scotl., 326. A spot equalized by few in picturesque and magnificent scenery.
1826. T. J. Wharton, in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem., I. 112. His great house, that equalizes (if not exceeds) any I have ever seen.
† 2. To reciprocate in equal degree; = EQUAL 4 b. Obs.
1598. Marston, Pygmal., xxiv. Instill into her some celestiall fire That she may equalize affection.
II. To make equal.
† 3. To regard, represent or treat as equal; to place on an equality. Obs. Also (rarely), to regard as contemporary with (cf. EQUAL B. 1 c). Const. to, with.
1599. Broughton’s Lett., vii. 22. There be that equalize some of them with S. Paul his time.
1621. R. Johnson, Way to Glory, 16. Doest [thou] … equalize them [my writings] with the Text of the Canonicall Scriptures?
1664. H. More, Antid. Idolatry, v. 65. The Virgin … they do at least equallize to Christ.
1751. Earl Orrery, Remarks Swift, xxii. (1752), 210 (R.). The … poem … which we equalize, and perhaps would willingly prefer, to the Iliad, is void of those fetters [rhyme].
4. To make equal in magnitude, number, degree of intensity, etc. Const. to, with.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 57. Equalizing the said Custome of Cloth, with the Custome of Wooll.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 136. Intending to equalize it [Babel] with the Starres.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., VI. vi. 301. Notwithstanding to equalize accounts, we will allow three hundred yeares.
1791. Boswell, Johnson, 2 June an. 1781, note. To show the propriety of equalising the revenues of bishops.
1794. J. Hutton, Philos. Heat, &c. 88. Their temperatures … must be always changing, and always tending to be equalised.
1825. Bentham, Ration. Reward, 58. The emoluments of peace and war were, therefore, equalized by attaching a fixed salary to the office.
1837. Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., III. 39. The despotism that would equalise property arbitrarily.
1871. B. Stewart, Heat, § 43. Thus to equalize the distances.
5. To make equal in condition, dignity, power or character.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 102. That they would not equallize him in the manner of his death, to abiect Dogs.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 72. Those who attempt to level, never equalize.
1803. Jane Porter, Thaddeus, xxx. (1831), 266. A young woman of fashion … equalising herself with a creature depending on his wits for support.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., V. 166. Office of itself does much to equalise politicians.
a. 1862. Buckle, Misc. Wks. (1872), I. 164. The invention of gunpowder equalised all men on the field of battle.
† 6. To level, bring to one level. Obs.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. ii. 38. These towring rocks … I will … equalize againe.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., I. 11. The Gothes … subuerted their pallaces, equalizing the walles with the ground.
1653. Gataker, Vind. Annot. Jer., 64. All alike eaven, as corn cut down, and eqalised [sic] by the harvest mans hand.
7. To render (a movement, process or condition) uniform.
1822. Imison, Sc. & Art (ed. Webster), I. 452. Fly wheels are employed to equalize the motion of a machine.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 189. Those ingenious contrivances for equalizing the action in Mr. Watt’s patent of 1782.
1878. K. Johnston, Africa, ii. 26. The rich forest lands of the Atlas slopes, which equalise the temperature.
b. To bring to an average level, compensate (an inequality).
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. xxix. 692. Equalizing the scarcity of one region by the plenty of another.
Hence Equalized ppl. a., Equalizing vbl. sb. (also attrib.) and ppl. a.
1657. S. W., Schism Dispach’t, 450. He hath not shown us … one equalizing word of this power to counterpoise the many particularizing terms objected by us.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 85. This equallizing of strength must be referred to the Judgment of the Operator.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 258. The utter subversion of your equalising principle.
1844. W. Upton, Physioglyphics, 115. Equalized energy.
1844. Caroline Fox, Mem. Old Friends (1882), 196. He talked of the national character of the French, and their equalizing methods of education.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech. Equalizing-saw, a pair of saws on a mandrel at a gaged distance apart, and used for squaring off the ends of boards and bringing them to dimensions.
1875. Hamerton, Intell. Life, I. iv. 22. The equalizing influence of the outside world.
