equivalent 
II. . 1. That which is equal in value, 
measure, power, force, import, or meaning, to 
something else; something that corresponds, 
balances, compensates, etc. 
For every dinner he gave them, they returned an equiv- 
alent in praise. Goldsmith, Citizen of the World, xxvii. 
[Some men] fancy a regular obedience to one law will 
be a full equivalent for their breach of another. Rogers. 
2. In geol., a stratum or series of strata in one 
district formed contemporaneously with a stra- 
tum or series of a different lithological character 
in a different region, or occupying the same rel- 
ative position in the scale of rocks, and agreeing 
in the character of its fossils if deposited under 
similar circumstances: thus, the Caen building- 
stone of France is the equivalent of the Eng- 
lish Bath oolite Endosmo tic equivalent. See en- 
dosmotic. Law of equivalents, in chem., the law that the 
several combining weights of any number of bodies which 
form coin pounds withagiven other body are either the same 
or simple multiples of the combining weights of these sev- 
eral bodies when they form compounds with one another. 
Thus, if a body A unite with other bodies B. C, D, then the 
quantities B, C, D(the letters being used to denote the com- 
bining quantities as well as the bodies) which unite witli 
it, or some simple multiples of these quantities, represent 
for the most part the proportions in which they unite 
among themselves. The various quantities A, B, C, D (or 
multiples of them) are termed the equivalents of one an- 
other. Thus, 1 part by weight of hydrogen unites with 8 
parts by weight of oxyg_en to form water, with 35.5 of chlo- 
rin to form hydrochloric acid, with 16 of sulphur to form 
sulphureted hydrogen ; these quantities or their multiples 
are therefore regarded as equivalents of one another, 8 
parts of oxygen uniting with 35.5 of chlorin to form chlorin 
monoxid(Cl20), and 16 of sulphur with 8 x 2 of oxygen to 
form sulphurous oxid (SC>2). When the atomic weights are 
taken into account (H = 1, O = 16, S = 32, Cl = 35.5), it is 
seen that one atom of hydrogen is the combining equiv- 
alent of one of chloriu, and two atoms of hydrogen of 
one of oxygen and one of sulphur ; and taking the quan- 
tivalence of hydrogen as unity, chlorin is univalent, oxy- 
gen and sulphur are bivalent. Upon this equivalency or 
quantivalence of the different elements is based their clas- 
sification into monads, dyads, triads, tetrads, etc., and ac- 
cents (sloping strokes) are frequently appended to the sym- 
bols in a formula toshow to which class the bodies belong, as 
H 2 O", N"'H 3 , C""H 4 or C'vHi. Mechanical or dynamic 
equivalent of heat, in physics, the amount of mechan- 
ical energy which is equivalent to (that is, which when 
transformed into heat will produce) one heat unit. This 
constant quantity has been determined in several ways. 
The first accurate experiments were by Joule, who mea- 
sured the amount of heat produced by the friction of a 
paddle-wheel in a vessel of water, the energy required to 
turn the paddle being supplied by a known weight de- 
scending through a known distance. Joule found that to 
raise one pound of water 1 F. (heat unit), 772 foot-pounds 
of mechanical work were required, and to raise it through 
1C., 1,390 foot-pounds. This constant is of ten called Joule's 
equivalent. See heat. Morphological equivalents, the 
similar forms which occur in different genetic series hav- 
ing a common origin, and probably due to similar causes. 
A. Hyatt. 
equivalent (e-kwiv'a-lent), v. t. [< equivalent, 
a."] To produce or constitute an equivalent to ; 
answer in full proportion; equal or equalize. 
J. N. Lockyer. 
equivalently (e-kwiv'a-lent-li), adv. 1. In an 
equivalent mariner. 
We seldom in kind, or equivalently, are ourselves clear 
of that which we charge upon others. 
Barrow, Works, I. xx. 
2t. In a manner equal to the occasion; suffi- 
ciently; adequately. 
Insufficient am I 
His grace to magnify, 
And laude equivalently. 
Sketton, Poems, p. 88. 
equi value (e-kwi-val'u), v. t. ; pret. and pp. equi- 
valued, ppr. equivaluing. [< L. cequus, equal, + 
E. value. Of. equivale.] To put the same value 
upon ; rate as equal. [Bare.] 
He has the fault of all our antiquaries, to equivalue the 
noble and the rabble of authorities. 
W. Taylor, in Robberds, I. 470. 
equivalve (e'kwi-valv), . and n. [< L. (eqnus, 
equal, + valva, the leaf of a door, a folding 
door : see valve."} I. a. In conch., having valves 
equal in size and form, as a bivalve mollusk. 
Also equivalvtllar. =Syn. See equilateral. 
II. n. A bivalve shell in which the valves 
are of equal size and form. 
equivalved (e'kwi-valvd), a. [< equivalve + 
-ef? 2 .] Same as equivalve. [Rare.] 
equivalvular (e-kwi-val'vu-lar), a. [< equi- 
valve, after valvular.'] Same as equivalve. 
equivocacyt (e-kwiv'o-ka-si), n. [< equivo- 
ca(te), a., + -cy."] Equivocalness. 
It is unreasonable to ascribe the equivocacy of this form 
unto the hatching of a toad. Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err. 
equivocal (e-kwiv'o-kal), a. and . [= It. 
equivocale, < LL. aiquivocus, of like sound, am- 
biguous: see equivoke.] I. a. 1. Being of 
doubtful signification; capable of being under- 
stood in different senses; ambiguous; doubt- 
1988 
ful : as, an equivocal word, term, or sense ; an 
equivocal answer. 
The beauties of Shakspere are not of so dim or equivocal 
a nature as to be visible only to learned eyes. Jeffrey. 
One man's gift is to tell the truth. ... He does not 
know how to say anything which is insincere, or even 
equivocal or dubious. J. F. Clarke, Self-Culture, p. 418. 
2. Of doubtful quality, origin, or significance ; 
capable of being ascribed to different motives 
or causes; suspicious; dubious: as, an equivo- 
cal character; equivocal relations; an equivo- 
cal reputation. 
For this reason he has cut but an equivocal figure in 
benevolent societies. Lamb, My Relations. 
3f. Equivocating. 
What an equivocal companion is this ! 
Shak., All's Well, v. 8. 
Equivocal action. See action. Equivocal cause*, a 
principal cause which is of a different nature from and 
better than its effect. Equivocal Chord. See chord, 4. 
Equivocal generation, in biol., a supposed spontane- 
ous evolution from something of a different kind. See 
spontaneous generation, under generation, and abiogenesix. 
Equivocal symptom, in pathol., a symptom which 
may arise from several different diseases. Equivocal 
test, an inconclusive test. 
I know well enough how equivocal a test this kind of 
popular opinion forms of the merit that obtained it [pub- 
lic confidence]. Burke, To a Noble Lord. 
=Syn. Doubtful, Ambiguous, etc. (see obscure, a.); inde- 
terminate. 
H. n. A word or term of doubtful meaning, 
or capable of different interpretations. 
Shall two or three wretched equivocals have the force 
to corrupt us? Dennis. 
In languages of great ductility, equivocals like those 
just referred to are rarely found. 
F. Hall, Mod. Eng., p. 168. 
equivocally (e-kwiv'o-kal-i), adv. In an equivo- 
cal manner; so as to leave the matter uncertain ; 
ambiguously; uncertainly; doubtfully. 
Which [courage and constancy] he that wanteth is no 
other than equivocally a gentleman, as an image or car- 
case is a man. 
Harrow, Sermon on Industry in our Several Callings. 
No language is so copious as to supply words and 
phrases for every complex idea, or so correct as not to in- 
clude many equivocally denoting different ideas. 
Madison, Federalist, No. xxxvii. 
equivocalness (e-kwiv'o-kal-nes), n. [< equivo- 
cal + -ness."] The character of being equivo- 
cal ; ambiguity ; double meaning. 
The equivocalness of the title gane a handle to those 
that came after. Waterland, Hist. Athanasian Creed, viii. 
equivocant (e-kwiv'o-kant), . [< ML. cequivo- 
can(t-)s, ppr! of ceqnivocari, be called by the 
same name, have the same sound: see equivo- 
cate, ).] 1. Having like sounds but different 
significations. 2. Equivocal. 
An answere by oracle . . . which verely was true, but 
no less ambiguous and equivocant, Aio te, .-Eacide, Roma- 
nos vincere posse, I say, thyself jEacides the Romans van- 
quish may. Holland, tr. of Animianus, p. 224. 
equivocate (e-kwiv'o-kat), v. ; pret. and pp. 
equivocated, ppr. equivocating. [< ML. aiquivo- 
catus, pp. of wquivocari, be called by the same 
name, have the same sound ( > It. equivocare = 
Sp. Pg. eqttivocar = F. equivoquer, equivocate), 
< LL. cequivocus, having the same sound, am- 
biguous: see equivocal, equivoke."] I. intrans. 
To use words of a doubtful signification ; ex- 
press one's opinions in terms which admit of 
different interpretations; specifically, to use 
ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead ; 
prevaricate. 
They were taught by the Jesuits to equivocate on oath. 
Proceedings against Garnet (1606), sig. V, 3. 
You have a sly equivocating vein 
That suits me not. Shelley, The Cenci, i. 2. 
Prebendaries and rectors were not ashamed to avow 
that they had equivocated. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xvi. 
Il.t trans. To render equivocal ; render false 
or lying. 
He equivocated his vow by a mental reservation. 
Sir G. Buck, Hist. Richard III., p. 142. 
equivocatet (e-kwiv'o-kat), a. [< ML. aiquivo- 
catus, pp. : see the verb.] Having a double 
signification. 
equivocation (e-kwiv-o-ka'shon), n. [= F. 
equivocation = 'Sp. equivocation = Pg. equivo- 
cfao = It. equivocazione, < ML. aquivocatio(n-), 
< (eqitivocari, have the same sound: see equivo- 
cate, v."] 1. In logic, a fallacy depending upon 
the double signification of some one word: dis- 
tinguished from amphibology, which depends 
upon the doubtful interpretation of a whole 
sentence. 
The great sophism of all sophisms being equivocation 
or ambiguity of words and phrase, specially of such words 
as are most general and intervene in every inquiry. 
Bacon, Advancement ol Learning, II, iii. 394, 
Equulidae 
Although there be no less than six [verbal fallacies], yet 
are there but two thereof worthy our notation, and unto 
which the rest may be referred : that is, the fallacy of 
equivocation, and amphibology, which conclude from the 
ambiguity of some one word, or the ambiguous syntaxis of 
many put together. Sir T. Brou-ne, Vulg. Err., i. 4. 
2. Ambiguity of speech ; specifically, the use, 
with a view to mislead, of words or expressions 
susceptible of a double signification ; prevarica- 
tion. 
To lurk under shifting ambiguities and equivocations of 
words in matters of principal weight is childish. 
Hooker, Eccles. Polity, viii. 1. 
I pull in resolution, and begin 
To doubt the equivocation of the fiend, 
That lies like truth. Shak., Macbeth, v. 5. 
= Syn. Prevarication, etc. (see evasion); shuffling, quib- 
bling, quibble, equivoke. 
equiyocator (e-kwiv'o-ka-tor), n. [< ML. 
equivocator, < aiquivocari, have the same sound : 
see equivocate.] One who equivocates; a pre- 
varicator. 
Knock, knock : who's there i' the other devil's name? 
'Faith, here's an equivocator, that could swear in both the 
scales against either scale ; . . . yet could not equivocate 
to heaven ; O, come in, equivocator. Shak., Macbeth, ii. 3. 
A secret liar or equivocator is such a one as by mental 
reservations, and otner tricks, deceives him to whom he 
speaks, being lawfully called to deliver all the truth. 
Fuller, Holy State, p. 390. 
equivocatory (e-kwiv'o-ka-to-ri), a. [< equivo- 
cate + -ory.] Indicating or characterized by 
equivocation. Craig. 
equivockt, See equivoke. 
equivoke, equivoque (ek'wi-vok), n. [For- 
merly also equivock; = G. equivoque = Dan. 
ekvivok = Sw. ekivok, < F. equivoque = Pr. equi- 
voc = Sp. equivoco = Pg. It. equivoco, < L. cequi- 
rocus, of like sound, of the same sound but of 
different senses, ambiguous, < cequus, equal, + 
vox (voc-), voice, sound, word, vocare, call: see 
vocal."] If. One of two or more things of dif- 
ferent nature but having the same name or 
designated by the same vocable. 
I know your equivocks, 
You are growne the better fathers of 'em o' late. 
B. Jomton, Devil is an Ass, iii. 1. 
Equivokes be such things as have one self name, and yet 
be divers in substance or definition : as a natural dog and 
a certain star in the firmament are both called by one 
name in Latin, Canis, yet they be nothing like in sub- 
stance, kind, or nature. Blundeville (1599). 
2. An ambiguous term ; a word susceptible of 
different significations. 
I loved you almost twenty years ago ; I thought of you 
as well as I do now ; better was beyond the power of con- 
ception ; or, to avoid an equivoque, beyond the extent of 
my ideas. Bolingbroke, To Swift. 
3. Equivocation. 
When a man can extricate himself with an equivoque in 
such an unequal match, he is not ill off. 
Sterne, Sentimental Journey, p. 33. 
equivorous (e-kwiv'o-rus), a. [< L. equus, a 
horse, + vorare, devour, + -CMS.] Feeding or 
subsistingonhorse-flesh; hippophagous. Smart. 
Equiwrous Tartars. Quarterly Rev. 
Equula (ek'wij-la), n. [NL., < L. equula, a little 
mare.] A genus of fishes, type of the family 
Equula tdentula. 
Equulida!, embracing a few species of the West 
Indies and the Pacific ocean, as E. edentula. 
Equuleus (e-kwo'le-us), n. [L., usually contr. 
eculeus, a colt, a rack (instrument of torture) 
in the shape of a horse, dim. of equus, a horse.] 
1. An ancient northern constellation, supposed 
to represent a horse's head. It lies west of the 
head of Pegasus, and its brightest star is of the 
fourth magnitude. Also Equiculiis. 2. [?.('.] 
In Rom. antiq. , a kind of rack used for extorting 
confessions from suspected or accused persons. 
Equuleus plctoris [painter's easel], generally called 
Pictor, a southern constellation invented by Lacaille. It 
lies south of the Dove and west of Canopus, and its bright- 
est star is of the fourth magnitude. 
Equulidae (e-kwo'li-de), n. pi. [NL., < Equula 
+ -nte.] A family of acanthopterygian fishes, 
typified by the genus Equula. They have an oblong, 
