a. [a. Fr. équitable, f. équité EQUITY.]
1. Characterized by equity or fairness. a. Of actions, arrangements, decisions, etc.: That is in accordance with equity; fair, just, reasonable.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., To Rdr. a 5 b. And therefore also wee cannot but hope the equitable considerations and candour of reasonable mindes.
1649. Cromwell, Lett., 15 April (Carlyle). Both my paper … and yours of the 28th do in all literal and all equitable construction agree.
1654. True State Commonw., 11. To interpose upon the same equitable grounds.
1769. Robertson, Chas. V., III. XI. 306. He might compel Charles to accept of an equitable peace.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. IV. v. 466. To take the lands … under an equitable valuation.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. iv. 296. But their punishment, if tyrannical in form, was equitable in substance.
b. Of persons: Guided by principles of equity, displaying a spirit of equity; unbiased, impartial, candid. Now rare.
1682. Burnet, Rights Princes, viii. 296. Equitable Judges would acknowledg that he had reason of his side.
1690. Boyle, Chr. Virtuoso, I. Pref. 2. I hope the Equitable Reader will not expect to find every Subject … fully Treated of.
1793. T. Beddoes, Math. Evid., 153. Nor will any equitable critic … dwell a moment upon this charge.
1875. Manning, Mission H. Ghost, vi. 165. The more severe we are to our own faults, the more gentle and equitable we shall be to the faults of others.
2. Pertaining to the department of jurisprudence called EQUITY. Of rights, claims, etc.: Valid in ‘equity’ as distinguished from ‘law.’
a. 1720. Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1753), II. 105. They could make me no legal title … and I have only an equitable one to depend on.
1818. Cruise, Digest, I. 225. A trust estate … is good as an equitable jointure.
1845. Polson, Eng. Law, in Encycl. Metrop., II. 856/1. In Demerara, Berbice, the Cape of Good Hope, [etc.] … the supreme courts are courts of equitable as well as legal jurisdiction.
1876. Digby, Real Prop., vii. § 4. 337. The legal estate is vested in the trustee, in trust for the cestui que trust, who has the equitable estate.
