Equitemporaneous E`qui·tem`po·ra"ne·ous adjective [ Latin aequus equal + tempus , temporis , time.] Contemporaneous. [ Obsolete] Boyle.

Equites Eq"ui·tes noun pl [ Latin , plural of eques a horseman.] (Rom. Antiq.) An order of knights holding a middle place between the senate and the commonalty; members of the Roman equestrian order.

Equity Eq"ui·ty noun ; plural Equities . [ French équité , Latin aequitas , from aequus even, equal. See Equal .] 1. Equality of rights; natural justice or right; the giving, or desiring to give, to each man his due, according to reason, and the law of God to man; fairness in determination of conflicting claims; impartiality.

Christianity secures both the private interests of men and the public peace, enforcing all justice and equity .

Tillotson.

2. (Law) An equitable claim; an equity of redemption; as, an equity to a settlement, or wife's equity , etc.

I consider the wife's equity to be too well settled to be shaken.

Kent.

3. (Law) A system of jurisprudence, supplemental to law, properly so called, and complemental of it.

Equity had been gradually shaping itself into a refined science which no human faculties could master without long and intense application.

Macaulay.

» Equitable jurisprudence in England and in the United States grew up from the inadequacy of common-law forms to secure justice in all cases; and this led to distinct courts by which equity was applied in the way of injunctions, bills of discovery, bills for specified performance, and other processes by which the merits of a case could be reached more summarily or more effectively than by common-law suits. By the recent English Judicature Act (1873), however, the English judges are bound to give effect, in common-law suits, to all equitable rights and remedies; and when the rules of equity and of common law, in any particular case, conflict, the rules of equity are to prevail. In many jurisdictions in the United States, equity and common law are thus blended; in others distinct equity tribunals are still maintained. See Chancery .

Equity of redemption (Law) , the advantage, allowed to a mortgageor, of a certain or reasonable time to redeem lands mortgaged, after they have been forfeited at law by the nonpayment of the sum of money due on the mortgage at the appointed time. Blackstone.

Syn. -- Right; justice; impartiality; rectitude; fairness; honesty; uprightness. See Justice .

Equivalence E·quiv"a·lence noun [ Confer French équivalence , Late Latin aequivalentia .] 1. The condition of being equivalent or equal; equality of worth, value, signification, or force; as, an equivalence of definitions.

2. Equal power or force; equivalent amount.

3. (Chemistry) (a) The quantity of the combining power of an atom, expressed in hydrogen units; the number of hydrogen atoms can combine with, or be exchanged for; valency. See Valence . (b) The degree of combining power as determined by relative weight. See Equivalent , noun , 2. [ R.]

Equivalence E·quiv"a·lence transitive verb To be equivalent or equal to; to counterbalance. [ R.] Sir T. Browne.

Equivalency E·quiv"a·len·cy noun Same as Equivalence .

Equivalent E·quiv"a·lent adjective [ Latin aequivalens , -entis , present participle of aequivalere to have equal power; aequus equal + valere to be strong, be worth: confer French équivalent . See Equal , and Valiant .] 1. Equal in worth or value, force, power, effect, import, and the like; alike in significance and value; of the same import or meaning.

For now to serve and to minister, servile and ministerial, are terms equivalent .

South.

2. (Geom.) Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; -- applied to magnitudes; as, a square may be equivalent to a triangle.

3. (Geol.) Contemporaneous in origin; as, the equivalent strata of different countries.

Equivalent E·quiv"a·lent noun 1. Something equivalent; that which is equal in value, worth, weight, or force; as, to offer an equivalent for damage done.

He owned that, if the Test Act were repealed, the Protestants were entitled to some equivalent . . . . During some weeks the word equivalent , then lately imported from France, was in the mouths of all the coffeehouse orators.

Macaulay.

2. (Chemistry) That comparative quantity by weight of an element which possesses the same chemical value as other elements, as determined by actual experiment and reference to the same standard. Specifically: (a) The comparative proportions by which one element replaces another in any particular compound; thus, as zinc replaces hydrogen in hydrochloric acid, their equivalents are 32.5 and 1. (b) The combining proportion by weight of a substance, or the number expressing this proportion, in any particular compound; as, the equivalents of hydrogen and oxygen in water are respectively 1 and 8, and in hydric dioxide 1 and 16.

» This term was adopted by Wollaston to avoid using the conjectural expression atomic weight , with which, however, for a time it was practically synonymous. The attempt to limit the term to the meaning of a universally comparative combining weight failed, because of the possibility of several compounds of the substances by reason of the variation in combining power which most elements exhibit. The equivalent was really identical with, or a multiple of submultiple of, the atomic weight.

3. (Chemistry) A combining unit, whether an atom, a radical, or a molecule; as, in acid salt two or more equivalents of acid unite with one or more equivalents of base.

Mechanical equivalent of heat (Physics) , the number of units of work which the unit of heat can perform; the mechanical energy which must be expended to raise the temperature of a unit weight of water from 0° C. to 1° C., or from 32° F. to 33° F. The term was introduced by Dr. Mayer of Heilbronn. Its value was found by Joule to be 1390 foot pounds upon the Centigrade, or 772 foot pounds upon the Fahrenheit, thermometric scale, whence it is often called Joule's equivalent , and represented by the symbol J. This is equal to 424 kilogram meters (Centigrade scale). A more recent determination by Professor Rowland gives the value 426.9 kilogram meters, for the latitude of Baltimore.

Equivalent E·quiv"a·lent transitive verb To make the equivalent to; to equal; equivalence. [ R.]

Equivalently E·quiv"a·lent·ly adverb In an equal manner.

Equivalue E`qui·val"ue transitive verb To put an equal value upon; to put (something) on a par with another thing. W. Taylor.

Equivalve, Equivalved E"qui·valve, E"qui·valved adjective [ Equi- + valve .] (Zoology) Having the valves equal in size and from, as in most bivalve shells.

Equivalvular E`qui·val"vu·lar adjective (Zoology) Same as Equivalve or Equivalved .

Equivocacy E·quiv"o·ca·cy noun Equivocalness.

Equivocal E·quiv"o·cal adjective [ Latin aequivocus : aequus equal + vox , vocis , word. See Equal , and Voice , and confer Equivoque .] 1. (Literally, called equally one thing or the other; hence:) Having two significations equally applicable; capable of double interpretation; of doubtful meaning; ambiguous; uncertain; as, equivocal words; an equivocal sentence.

For the beauties of Shakespeare are not of so dim or equivocal a nature as to be visible only to learned eyes.

Jeffrey.

2. Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected; as, his actions are equivocal . " Equivocal repentances." Milton.

3. Uncertain, as an indication or sign; doubtful. "How equivocal a test." Burke.

Equivocal chord (Mus.) , a chord which can be resolved into several distinct keys; one whose intervals, being all minor thirds, do not clearly indicate its fundamental tone or root; the chord of the diminished triad, and the diminished seventh.

Syn. -- Ambiguous; doubtful; uncertain; indeterminate. -- Equivocal , Ambiguous . We call an expression ambiguous when it has one general meaning, and yet contains certain words which may be taken in two different senses; or certain clauses which can be so connected with other clauses as to divide the mind between different views of part of the meaning intended. We call an expression equivocal when, taken as a whole, it conveys a given thought with perfect clearness and propriety, and also another thought with equal propriety and clearness. Such were the responses often given by the Delphic oracle; as that to Cr...sus when consulting about a war with Persia: "If you cross the Halys, you will destroy a great empire." This he applied to the Persian empire, which lay beyond that river, and, having crossed, destroyed his own, empire in the conflict. What is ambiguous is a mere blunder of language; what is equivocal is usually intended to deceive, though it may occur at times from mere inadvertence. Equivocation is applied only to cases where there is a design to deceive.

Equivocal E·quiv"o·cal noun A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term; an equivoque.

In languages of great ductility, equivocals like that just referred to are rarely found.

Fitzed. Hall.

Equivocally E·quiv"o·cal·ly adverb In an equivocal manner.

Equivocalness E·quiv"o·cal·ness noun The state of being equivocal.

Equivocate E·quiv"o·cate intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Equivocated ; present participle & verbal noun Equivocating .] [ Latin aequivocatus , past participle of aequivocari to be called by the same name, from Latin aequivocus : confer French équivoquer . See Equivocal , adjective ] To use words of equivocal or doubtful signification; to express one's opinions in terms which admit of different senses, with intent to deceive; to use ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead; as, to equivocate is the work of duplicity.

All that Garnet had to say for him was that he supposed he meant to equivocate .

Bp. Stillingfleet.

Syn. -- To prevaricate; evade; shuffle; quibble. See Prevaricate .

Equivocate E·quiv"o·cate transitive verb To render equivocal or ambiguous.

He equivocated his vow by a mental reservation.

Sir G. Buck.

Equivocation E·quiv`o·ca"tion noun The use of expressions susceptible of a double signification, with a purpose to mislead.

There being no room for equivocations , there is no need of distinctions.

Locke.

Syn. -- Prevarication; ambiguity; shuffling; evasion; guibbling. See Equivocal , adjective , and Prevaricate , intransitive verb

Equivocator E·quiv"o·ca`tor noun One who equivocates.

Here's an equivocator that could swear in both the scales against either scale, yet could not equivocate to heaven.

Shak.

Equivocatory E·quiv"o·ca·to·ry adjective Indicating, or characterized by, equivocation.

Equivoque, Equivoke Eq"ui·voque, Eq"ui·voke noun [ French équivoque . See Equivocal .] 1. An ambiguous term; a word susceptible of different significations. Coleridge.

2. An equivocation; a guibble. B. Jonson.

Equivorous E·quiv"o·rous adjective [ Latin equus horse + vorare to eat greedily.] Feeding on horseflesh; as, equivorous Tartars.

Equus E"quus noun [ Latin , horse.] (Zoology) A genus of mammals, including the horse, ass, etc.

Era E"ra noun ; plural Eras . [ Late Latin aera an era, in earlier usage, the items of an account, counters, plural of aes , aeris , brass, money. See Ore .] 1. A fixed point of time, usually an epoch, from which a series of years is reckoned.

The foundation of Solomon's temple is conjectured by Ideler to have been an era .

R. S. Poole.

2. A period of time reckoned from some particular date or epoch; a succession of years dating from some important event; as, the era of Alexander; the era of Christ, or the Christian era (see under Christian ).

The first century of our era .

M. Arnold.

3. A period of time in which a new order of things prevails; a signal stage of history; an epoch.

Painting may truly be said to have opened the new era of culture.

J. A. Symonds.

Syn. -- Epoch; time; date; period; age; dispensation. See Epoch .

Eradiate E·ra"di·ate intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Eradiated ; present participle & verbal noun Eradiating .] [ Prefix e- + radiate .] To shoot forth, as rays of light; to beam; to radiate. Dr. H. More.

Eradiation E·ra`di·a"tion noun Emission of radiance.

Eradicable E·rad"i·ca·ble adjective Capable of being eradicated.

Eradicate E·rad"i·cate transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Eradicated ; present participle & verbal noun Eradicating .] [ Latin eradicatus , past participle of eradicare to eradicate; e out + radix , radicis , root. See Radical .] 1. To pluck up by the roots; to root up; as, an oak tree eradicated .

2. To root out; to destroy utterly; to extirpate; as, to eradicate diseases, or errors.

This, although now an old an inveterate evil, might be eradicated by vigorous treatment.

Southey.

Syn. -- To extirpate; root out; exterminate; destroy; annihilate.

Eradication E·rad`i·ca"tion noun [ Latin eradicatio : confer French éradication .] 1. The act of plucking up by the roots; a rooting out; extirpation; utter destruction.

2. The state of being plucked up by the roots.

Eradicative E·rad"i·ca·tive adjective [ Confer éradicatif .] Tending or serving to eradicate; curing or destroying thoroughly, as a disease or any evil.

Eradicative E·rad"i·ca·tive noun (Medicine) A medicine that effects a radical cure. Whitlock.

Erasable E·ras"a·ble adjective Capable of being erased.

Erase E·rase" (e*rās") transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Erased (-rāst"); present participle & verbal noun . Erasing .] [ Latin erasus , past participle of eradere to erase; e out + radere to scrape, scratch, shave. See Rase .] 1. To rub or scrape out, as letters or characters written, engraved, or painted; to efface; to expunge; to cross out; as, to erase a word or a name.

2. Fig.: To obliterate; to expunge; to blot out; -- used of ideas in the mind or memory. Burke.

Erased E·rased" (e*rāst") past participle & adjective 1. Rubbed or scraped out; effaced; obliterated.

2. (Her.) Represented with jagged and uneven edges, as is torn off; -- used esp. of the head or limb of a beast. Confer Couped .

Erasement E·rase"ment (rās"m e nt) noun The act of erasing; a rubbing out; expunction; obliteration. Johnson.

Eraser E·ras"er noun One who, or that which, erases; esp., a sharp instrument or a piece of rubber used to erase writings, drawings, etc.

Erasion E·ra"sion noun The act of erasing; a rubbing out; obliteration.

Erastian E·ras"tian noun (Eccl. Hist.) One of the followers of Thomas Erastus, a German physician and theologian of the 16th century. He held that the punishment of all offenses should be referred to the civil power, and that holy communion was open to all. In the present day, an Erastian is one who would see the church placed entirely under the control of the State. Shipley.

Erastianism E·ras"tian·ism noun (Eccl. Hist.) The principles of the Erastains.

Erasure E·ra"sure noun [ From Erase .] The act of erasing; a scratching out; obliteration.

Erasure E·ra"sure noun An instance of erasing; also, the place where something has been erased.

Erative Er"a·tive adjective Pertaining to the Muse Erato who presided over amatory poetry. Stormonth.

Erato Er"a·to noun [ Latin , from Greek ..., from ... to love.] (Class. Myth.) The Muse who presided over lyric and amatory poetry.

Erbium Er"bi·um noun [ New Latin from Ytt erb y, in Sweden, where gadolinite is found. Confer Terbium , Yttrium , Ytterbium .] (Chemistry) A rare metallic element associated with several other rare elements in the mineral gadolinite from Ytterby in Sweden. Symbol Er. Atomic weight 165.9. Its salts are rose-colored and give characteristic spectra. Its sesquioxide is called erbia .

Erbium Er"bi·um noun [ New Latin Named from Ytterby , in Sweden, where gadolinite is found. Confer Terbium , Yttrium , Ytterbium .] (Chemistry) A metallic element of the rare earth group, found in gadolinite and some other minerals. Symbol, Er ; at. wt. 167.4. Its salts are rose-colored and give characteristic spectra.

Ercedeken Er`ce·de"ken noun [ Middle English , from prefix erce- = archi- + deken a deacon.] An archdeacon. [ Obsolete]

Erd Erd noun [ Middle English erd , eard , earth, land, country, Anglo-Saxon eard ; akin to Old Saxon ard dwelling place, Old High German art plowing, tillage, Icelandic örð crop, and to Latin arare to plow, English ear to plow.] The earth. [ Prov. Eng.] Wright.

Erd shrew (Zoology) , the common European shrew ( Sorex vulgaris ); the shrewmouse.

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