Part 495

A fellow of plain uncoined constancy. Shak.

Constancy and contempt of danger. Prescott.

Syn. -- Fixedness; stability; firmness; steadiness; permanence; steadfastness; resolution. See Firmness.

Con"stant (?), a. [L. onstans, -antis, p. pr. of constare to stand firm, to be consistent; con- + stare to stand: cf. F. constant. See Stand and cf. Cost, v. t.] 1. Firm; solid; fixed; immovable; -- opposed to fluid. [Obs.]

If . . . you mix them, you may turn these two fluid liquors into a constant body. Boyle.

2. Not liable, or given, to change; permanent; regular; continuous; continually recurring; steadfast; faithful; not fickle.

Both loving one fair maid, they yet remained constant friends. Sir P. Sidney.

I am constant to my purposes. Shak.

His gifts, his constant courtship, nothing gained. Dryden.

Onward the constant current sweeps. Longfellow.

3. (Math. & Physics) Remaining unchanged or invariable, as a quantity, force, law, etc. Contrasted with variable.

4. Consistent; logical. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn. -- Fixed; steadfast; unchanging; permanent; unalterable; immutable; invariable; perpetual; continual; resolute; firm; unshaken; determined. -- Constant, Continual, Perpetual. These words are sometimes used in an absolute and sometimes in a qualified sense. Constant denotes, in its absolute sense, unchangeably fixed; as, a constant mind or purpose. In its qualified sense, it marks something as a "standing" fact or occurence; as, liable to constant interruptions; constantly called for. Continual, in its absolute sense, coincides with continuous. See Continuous. In its qualified sense, it describes a thing as occuring in steady and rapid succession; as, a round of continual calls; continually changing. Perpetual denotes, in its absolute sense, what literally never ceases or comes to an end; as, perpetual motion. In its qualified sense, it is used hyperbolically, and denotes that which rarely ceases; as, perpetual disturbance; perpetual noise; perpetual intermeddling.

Con"stant, n. 1. That which is not subject to change; that which is invariable.

2. (Math.) A quantity that does not change its value; -- used in countradistinction to variable.

Absolute constant (Math.), one whose value is absolutely the same under all circumstances, as the number 10, or any numeral. -- Arbitrary constant, an undetermined constant in a differential equation having the same value during all changes in the values of the variables.

Con*stan"ti*a (? or &?;), n. A superior wine, white and red, from Constantia, in Cape Colony.

Con"stant*ly (?), adv. With constancy; steadily; continually; perseveringly; without cessation; uniformly.

But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Acts. xii. 15.

||Con"stat (?), n. [L., it is evident.] (Law) A certificate showing what appears upon record touching a matter in question.

Con*state" (?), v. t. [F. constater; L. con- + stare to stand.] To ascertain; to verify; to establish; to prove. F. P. Cobbe.

Con"stel*late (? or &?;), v. i. [Pref. con- + L. stellatus, p. p. of stellare to cover with stars, stella star. See Stellate.] To join luster; to shine with united radiance, or one general light. [R.]

The several things which engage our affections . . . shine forth and constellate in God. Boule.

Con"stel*late, v. t. 1. To unite in one luster or radiance, as stars. [R.]

Whe know how to constellate these lights. Boyle.

2. To set or adorn with stars or constellations; as, constellated heavens. J. Barlow.

Con`stel*la"tion (?), n. [F. constellation, L. constellatio.] 1. A cluster or group of fixed stars, or division of the heavens, designated in most cases by the name of some animal, or of some mythologial personage, within whose imaginary outline, as traced upon the heavens, the group is included.

The constellations seem to have been almost purposely named and delineated to cause as much confusion and inconvenience as possible. Sir J. Herschel.