Equally

adv. Also 6 equallie, (equaly). [f. EQUAL a. + -LY².]

  1.  To an equal degree or extent; as much in one case as in another. Const. with; sometimes as.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 215. It is doubtfull whether it [Saint Helena] adhere to America or Afrique, the vast Ocean bellowing, on both sides, and almost equally.

1668.  J. Mall, Offer of F. Help, 113. They all flow equally from the sovereignty of God.

1692.  O. Walker, Greek & Rom. Hist. Illustr., 291. He was equally Learned as Warlike.

1701.  De Foe, True-born Eng., II. 6. And equally of Fear and Forecast void.

1736.  Butler, Anal., I. i. Wks. 1874, I. 25. It is said these observations are equally applicable to brutes.

1791.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Rom. Forest, xvii. You and Clara shall be equally my daughters.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 146. His presence and his absence were equally dreaded by the lord lieutenant.

1853.  F. W. Newman, trans. Odes Horace, 7. Being the inventor of the lyre, he [Hermes] is patron of poets equally as Apollo.

1871.  T. Arnold, Wyclif’s Sel. Wks., III. Introd. p. x. This work is equally one-sided and uncompromising with Wyclif’s tracts.

  2.  In equal shares.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Sompn. T., 529. Ther nys no man can deme … If that it were departed equally.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., V. iii. 294. My Foreward … Consisting equally of Horse and Foot.

1695.  Ld. Preston, Boeth. Life, 15. Equally sharing with him his Labours and Victories.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), II. 25. To her other sisters equally between them.

1827.  J. Powell, Devises, II. 181. The said legacy should be divided equally between them that were alive.

  3.  According to one and the same rule or measure. Formerly also, impartially, equitably, justly.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 110. Deale equally, without parcialite.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, V. iii. 45. So to vse them, As we shall find their merites, and our safety May equally determine.

1609.  Daniel, Civ. Wares, V. xxi. 119 (R.). The equally-respecting eye Of Powre, looking alike on like deserts.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., I. xv. 77. If a man is trusted to judge between man and man, it is a precept of the Law of Nature, that he deale Equally between them.

1702.  Eng. Theophrast., 3. To enter equally into the Genius of both Nations.

1860.  Ruskin, Mod. Paint., V. IX. i. 204. You say it is dealing equitably or equally.

  † 4.  On a level with regard to height; uniformly with regard to direction; in a line with. Obs.

1599.  Hakluyt, Voy., II. II. 69. Yet are they [the bridges] equally built, no higher in the middle then at either ende.

1660.  Barrow, Euclid, I. Def. iv. A Right Line is that which lies equally betwixt its Points.

1721.  Strype, Eccl. Mem., II. I. i. 3. The nurse went equally with him that supported the train.

  5.  Uniformly; in uniform degree or quantity; in the same relative proportion.

1664.  Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 235. Distributing the Air … more equally thro’ the House.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., II. xiv. § 22. 90. Being constantly equally swift.

1735.  Berkeley, Querist, § 214. Seed equally scattered produceth a goodly harvest.

1793.  Smeaton, Edystone L., § 242. The wedges and trenails … were every where equally applied.

1796.  Nelson, 5 June, in Nicolas, Disp. (1846), VII. Introd. 81. I know of none so equally good.

1825.  J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 351. The thickest wires receive the strongest heat; therefore, the whole is equally heated in the same space of time.

1854.  H. Miller, Sch. & Schm., xiii. The population, formerly spread pretty equally over the country.