eprouvette 
prove, ] 1. An apparatus for testing the ex- 
plosive force of powders or other explosives. 
The most simple form is a pistol having the muzzle closed 
by a plate, which is maintained in position by a spring. 
When the pistol is fired, the tension of the spring is over- 
come and the plate is blown back, turning a ratchet-wheel 
which registers the force of the explosion. 
2. A spoon used in assaying metals. 3. A 
short mortar. 
epruinose (e-pro'i-nos), a. [< NL. *epruino- 
sun, < L. c-priv. + pruina, frost: see pruinose.] 
In hot., not pruinose. 
epsilon (ep-si'lon). . [< LGr. ? iptMv, 'simple e' 
(iptMv, neut. of ipiMf, simple) : so called by late 
grammarians to distinguish it from the diph- 
thong at, which had come to be pronounced 
like f. So LGr. v ^>Mv, 'simple v,' as distin- 
guished from the diphthong 01, which had come 
to be pronounced like v: see upsilon, ypsilou.] 
The fifth letter of the Greek alphabet, equiva- 
lent to short e. 
epsomite (ep'sum-it), n. [< Epsom + -ite'*.~] 
Native Epsom salt, occasionally found as a deli- 
cate fibrous or capillary efflorescence on rocks, 
in the galleries of mines, upon the damp walls 
of cellars, etc. Also called hair-salt. 
Epsom salt. See salt. 
epulationt (ep-u-la'shon), B. [< L. epulatio(n-), 
< epulari, banquet, < epulw, a banquet.] A feast- 
ing ; a feast. 
He [Epicurus] was contented with bread and water, and 
when he would dine with Jove, and pretend unto epula- 
tion, he desired no other addition than a piece of Cythe- 
ridian cheese. Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., vii. 17. 
epulis (e-pu'lis), n, ; pi. epulides ;(-li-dez). [NL., 
< Gr. t jrovX/f. a gum-boil, < M, upon, + OVAOV, 
usually pi. ovfM, the gums.] Inpatliol. : (a) A 
small elastic tumor of the gums, most frequent- 
ly a sarcoma, (b) Loosely, any other variety 
of neoplasm appearing in this situation. 
epulosis (ep-u-16'sis), n. [NL., < Gr. firoi., 
a cicatrization, < *cTrov).uTof, verbal adj. of kirov- 
MiiaBai. cicatrize, be scarred over, < em, upon, + 
ovhoiiaoai, be scarred over, < oiAtj, a wound scarred 
over, a cicatrix, < ovl.of, Epic and Ionic form of 
6/iof, whole, = L. salvus, whole, safe : see liolo-.] 
In med., cicatrization. 
epulotic (ep-u-lot'ik), . and n. [< Gr. exovlM- 
r/Kof , promoting cicatrization, < "tmw/.uTof, ver- 
bal adj. of brotMO&oAu. cicatrize: see epulosis.'] 
I. a. Healing ; cicatrizing. 
II. 11. A medicament or an application which 
tends to dry, cicatrize, and heal wounds or ul- 
cers. 
The nicer, incarned with common sarcoticks, and the 
ulcerations about it were cured by ointment of tuty, and 
such like epuloticks. Wiseman, On Inflammation. 
epupillate (e-pu'pi-lat), a. [< L. e- priv. + 
pupilla, pupil: see papillate.] Having no pu- 
pil: applied in entomology to a color-spot when 
it is surrounded by a ring of another color, but 
is without a central dot or pupil. 
epural (e-pu'ral), a. and n. [< Gr. em, upon, 
-I- ovpd, tail, -P -al.~\ I. a. Situated upon the 
tail, or over the caudal region of the axial col- 
umn. Compare hypural. 
II. . One of the osseous or cartilaginous 
neural spines, or pieces upon the upper side of 
the hinder end of the axial column of fishes, 
which may or may not support fin-rays. J. A. 
Ryder. 
Also epiural. 
epuration (ep-u-ra'shon), n. [< L. c, out, + pu- 
rare, pp. puralns, purify, < purns, pure.] The 
act of purifying. 
The epuration of sewage, by irrigation and agriculture. 
Science, III., No. 66, p. v. 
epure (e-pur' ), . [F. epurc, a clean draft, work- 
ing-drawing, < eptirer, purify, clarify, cleanse, 
refine, < L. c, out, + purare, purify : see epura- 
tinn.] In arch., the plan of a building, or part 
of a building, traced on a wall or on a horizontal 
surface, on the same scale as that of the work 
to be constructed. 
Epyornis, n. See Mpyornis. 
equability (e-kwa- or ek-wa-bil'i-ti), n. [For- 
merly equability ; < L. <eqii'abilita(t-)s, < cequa- 
bilis, equable: see equable.] The condition or 
quality of being equable ; continued equality, 
regularity, or uniformity : as, the equability of 
the velocity of the blood ; the equability of the 
temperature of the air ; equability of temper. 
For the celestial . . . bodies, the equability and con- 
stancy of their motions . . . argne them to be ordained 
and governed by wisdom and understanding. 
Ray, Works of Creation. 
I should join to these other qualifications a certain (Equa- 
bility or evenness of behaviour. Spectator, .No. 68. 
1980 
This [Patagonianl line of coast lias been upheaved with 
remarkable equability, and that over a vast space both 
north and south of S. Julian. 
Danvin, Geol. Observations, ii. 347. 
equable (e'kwa- or ek'wa-bl), a. [= It. crjua- 
bile, < L. mquabilis, that can be made equal, 
equal, consistent, uniform, < (cquare, make 
equal: see equate.] 1. Characterized by uni- 
formity, invariableness, or evenness ; equal and 
uniform at all times ; regular in action or in- 
tensity; not varying; steady: as, an equable 
temperature. 
He spake of love, such love as spirits feel, 
In worlds whose course is equable and pure. 
Wordsworth, Laodamia. 
He was naturally of an equable temper, and inclined to 
moderation in all things. Prescott, Ferd. and Isa., ii. 24. 
His spirits do not seem to have been high, but they were 
singularly equable. Alacaulaij. 
2t. Even; smooth; having a uniform surface 
or form : as, an equable globe or plain. 
He would have the vast body of a planet to be as elegant 
and round as a factitious globe represents it ; to be every- 
where smooth and equable, and as plain as Elysian fields. 
Bcntley. 
Equable motion, motion by which equal spaces are de- 
scribed in equal times. 
equableness (e'kwa- or ek'wa-bl-nes), n. Equa- 
bility. 
equably (e'kwa- or ek'wa-bli), adv. In an 
equable manner. 
If bodies move equably in concentrick circles, and the 
squares of their periodical times be as the cubes of their 
distances from the common centre, their centripetal forces 
will be reciprocally as the squares of the distances. 
Cheyne.. 
Equably accelerated, accelerated by equal increments 
in equal times. 
equal (e'kwal), a. and n. [Early mod. E. also 
equail; < ME. equal (also egal: see egal), < OF. 
equal, equail, equattl, egual, egal, aigal, ngal, 
etc., ewal, euwel, yewel, yevel, level, ivel, ycel, 
etc., F. egal = Pr. egual = Sp. Pg. igual = 
It. egualc, uguale, < L. aiqualis, equal, like, < 
(equus, plain, even, level, flat (cf. vcquum, a 
plain, atquor, a level, esp. the level sea), equal, 
like; perhaps akin to Skt. eka, one.] I. a. 1. 
Having one measure ; the same in magnitude, 
quantity, degree, amount, worth, value, or ex- 
cellence. Thus, two collections of objects are equal in 
number when the operation of counting, applied to the two, 
ends with the same number; two lengths are equal when 
either will cover the other ; two stars appear of equal 
brightness when the eye can detect no difference between 
them in this respect. Quantities of two or more dimen- 
sions are equal only when they are equal in each dimen- 
sion separately. Thus, two vectors are not necessarily 
equal because they are equal in length ; it is necessary 
that they should also be parallel. It is therefore prefera- 
ble not to speak of two forces (or anything else capable of 
representation by vectors) as equal, unless they are paral- 
lel. Nevertheless, the prevalent mathematical usage is, 
or has been until recently, to call two such things equal 
when their tensors or moduli are equal. On the other hand, 
common usage presents an opposite inconsistency in refus- 
ing to call geometrical figures (particularly triangles) equal 
unless they can be superposed. Euclid and some modern 
geometers make it an axiom that figures which can be su- 
perposed are equal; but others define equal figures as such 
as can be superposed. 
They . .. made the maimed, orphans, widows, yea, and 
the aged also, equal in spoils with themselves. 
2 Mac. viii. 30. 
Thou therefore also taste, that equal lot 
May join us, equal joy, as equal love. 
Milton, P. L., ix. 881. 
Here, however, I could use the word equal only in its 
practical sense, in which two things are equal when I can- 
not perceive their difference ; not in its theoretical sense, 
in which two things are equal when they have no differ- 
ence at all. W. K. Clifford., Lectures, I. 268. 
The difference between Rome and any other Latin city 
appears at once in the fact that Rome by herself always 
deals on at least equal terms with the Latin league as a 
whole. E. A. Freeman, Amer. Lects., p. 316. 
2. Even; uniform; not variable; equable: as, 
an equal mind. 
An equal temper in his mind he found, 
When fortune flatter'd him, and when she frown VI. 
Dryden. 
Let us swear an oath, and keep it with an equal mind. 
Tennyson, Lotos-Eaters (Cnoric Song). 
3. Having a just relation or proportion; corre- 
spondent ; commensurate. 
Were my fortunes equal to my desires, I could wish to 
make one there. Shak., Pericles, ii. 1. 
I hope your nobte usage has been equal 
With your own person'. 
lieau. and Fl., King and No King, iv. 2. 
It is not permitted me to make my commendations 
equal to your merit. Driiden, Fables, Ded. 
4. Impartial; not biased; just; equitable; not 
unduly favorable to any party : as, the terms 
and conditions of the contract are equal; equal 
laws. 
equal 
Ye say, the way of the Lord is not equal. Ezek. xviii. 25. 
The condemn'd man 
Has yet that privilege to speak, my lord ; 
Law were not equal else. 
Fletcher, Valentinian, ii. 3. 
Oh, equal Heaven, how wisely thou disposest 
Thy several gifts ! 
Fletcher (and another), Love's Cure, ill. 2. 
0, you equal gods, 
Whose justice not a world of wolf-turned men 
Shall make me to accuse. E. Jonxon, Sejanus, iii. 1. 
It could not but much redound to the lustre of your 
milde and equail Government. Hilton, Areopagitica. 
5. Of the same interest or concern; of like mo- 
ment or importance. 
They who are not disposed to receive them may let them 
alone or reject them ; it is equal to me. Cheyne. 
6. Adequate; having competent power, ability, 
or means: with to : as, the army was not equal 
to the contest ; we are not equal to the under- 
taking. 
The Scots trusted not their own numbers as equal to 
fight with the English. Clarendon, Great Rebellion. 
His health was not equal to the voyage, and he did not 
live to reach Virginia. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., I. 117. 
7. Of the same rank or dignity ; having a com- 
mon level or standing ; having the same rights, 
interests, etfi. : as, we are all equal in the sight 
of God. 
These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast 
made them equal unto xis, which have borne the burden 
and heat of the day. Mat. xx. 12. 
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men 
are created equal; that they are endowed, by their Creator, 
with certain unalienable rights ; that among these are life, 
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 
Declaration of Independence. 
8. In hot., symmetrical, as applied to leaves and 
to various organs of cryptogams ; of uniform 
thickness, as the stipe of an agaric. 9. In en- 
torn., same as equate Curve of equal approach. 
See approach. Equal counterpoint, in music, counter- 
point made up of tones of equal duration ; a contrapuntal 
composition thus constituted. Equal decrement of 
life. See decrement. Equal propositions, propositions 
which state the same fact. Equal Rights party. See 
Locofoco. Equal surface, in entont., one without mark- 
ed irregularities or sculpture, but not necessarily plane ; 
an equate surface. Equal temperament. See tempera- 
ment. Equal voices, in WUKIC, strictly, voices having 
the same quality and compass, but often applied to male 
voices as opposed to female, or vice versa. Surface of 
equal head. See head. = Syn. 2. Equable, regular, un- 
varying. 3. Proportionate, conformable, equivalent. 4. 
Fair, even-handed. 6. Fit, competent. 
II. n. 1. One who or that which is not differ- 
ent in all or some respects from another ; spe- 
cifically, one who is not inferior or superior to 
another ; a person having the same or a similar 
age, rank, station, office, talents, strength, etc. 
It was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine ac- 
quaintance. Ps. Iv. 13. 
Miranda is indeed a gentleman 
Of fair desert and better hopes ; hut yet 
He hath his equals. 
Beau, and Fl., Knight of Malta, iii. 2. 
Those who were once his equals envy and defame him. 
Additon. 
In taste and imagination, in the graces of style, in the 
arts of persuasion, in the magnificence of public works, 
the ancients were at least our equals, ilacaulay, History. 
2f. The state of being equal ; equality. 
Thou that presum'st to weigh the world anew, 
And all things to an equail to restore. 
Spenser, F. Q.,V. ii. 34. 
equal (e'kwal), adv. [< equal, a.] Equally; in 
a manner equal (to). [Obsolete or colloq.] 
Thou art 
A thing that, equal with the Devil himself, 
I do detest and scorn. 
Massiuffer, Duke of Milan, ii. 1. 
The head is painted equal to Titian ; and though done, 
I suppose, after the clock had struck five-and-thirty, yet 
she retains a great share of beauty. 
Walpole, Letters, II. 365. 
equal (e'kwal), v. ; pret. and pp. equaled or 
equalled, ppr. equaling or equalling. [< ME. 
equalen, equelex; < equal, a.] I. trans. 1. To be 
or become equal to ; be commensurate with ; 
be as great as; correspond to or be on a level 
with in any respect ; be adequate to : as, your 
share equals mine ; no other dramatist equals 
Shakspere. 
And will she yet abase her eyes on me, . . . 
On me, whose all not equals Edward's moiety? 
Shale., Rich. III., i. 2. 
And (according to all the opinions of the lesuites there 
abiding) equalling or exceeding in people foure of the 
greatest Cities in Europe. Punka*, Pilgrimage, p. 438. 
No falsehood 
Equals a broken faith. 
Ford, Broken Heart, iv. 2. 
2. To make equivalent to; recompense fully; 
answer in full proportion. 
