Part 3893

<hr> <page="506"> Page 506<p>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Geol.)</fld> <def>Contemporaneous in origin; <as>as, the <ex>equivalent</ex> strata of different countries</as>.</def>

<h1>Equivalent</h1> <Xpage=506>

<hw>E*quiv"a*lent</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Something equivalent; that which is equal in value, worth, weight, or force; <as>as, to offer an <ex>equivalent</ex> for damage done</as>.</def>

<blockquote>He owned that, if the Test Act were repealed, the Protestants were entitled to some <b>equivalent</b>. . . . During some weeks the word <b>equivalent</b>, then lately imported from France, was in the mouths of all the coffeehouse. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Chem.)</fld> <def>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: <sd>(a)</sd> The comparative proportions by which one element replaces another in any particular compound; thus, as zinc replaces hydrogen in hydrochloric acid, their <i>equivalents</i> are 32.5 and 1. <sd>(b)</sd> The combining proportion by weight of a substance, or the number expressing this proportion, in any particular compound; <as>as, the <ex>equivalents</ex> of hydrogen and oxygen in water are respectively 1 and 8, and in hydric dioxide 1 and 16</as>.</def><-- = equivalent weight. -->

<note>&hand; This term was adopted by Wollaston to avoid using the conjectural expression <i>atomic weight</i>, 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 <i>equivalent</i> was really identical with, or a multiple of submultiple of, the atomic weight.</note>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Chem.)</fld> <def>A combining unit, whether an atom, a radical, or a molecule; <as>as, in acid salt two or more <ex>equivalents</ex> of acid unite with one or more <ex>equivalents</ex> of base</as>.</def>

<cs><col>Mechanical equivalent of heat</col> <fld>(Physics)</fld>, <cd>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&deg; C. to 1&deg; C., or from 32&deg; F. to 33&deg; 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 <i>Joule's equivalent<i>, 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.</cd></cs>

<h1>Equivalent</h1> <Xpage=506>

<hw>E*quiv"a*lent</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To make the equivalent to; to equal; equivalence.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<h1>Equivalently</h1> <Xpage=506>

<hw>E*quiv"a*lent*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In an equal manner.</def>

<h1>Equivalue</h1> <Xpage=506>

<hw>E`qui*val"ue</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To put an equal value upon; to put (something) on a par with another thing.</def>

<i>W. Taylor.</i>

<h1>Equivalve, Equivalved</h1> <Xpage=506>

<hw><hw>E"qui*valve</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <hw>E"qui*valved</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>,<hw> <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Equi-</ets> + <ets>valve</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>Having the valves equal in size and from, as in most bivalve shells.</def>

<h1>Equivalvular</h1> <Xpage=506>

<hw>E`qui*val"vu*lar</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>Same as <er>Equivalve</er> or <er>Equivalved</er>.</def>

<h1>Equivocacy</h1> <Xpage=506>

<hw>E*quiv"o*ca*cy</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Equivocalness.</def>

<h1>Equivocal</h1> <Xpage=506>

<hw>E*quiv"o*cal</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>aequivocus</ets>: <ets>aequus</ets> equal + <ets>vox</ets>, <ets>vocis</ets>, word. See <er>Equal</er>, and <er>Voice</er>, and cf. <er>Equivoque</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>(Literally, <i>called equally</i> one thing or the other; hence:) Having two significations equally applicable; capable of double interpretation; of doubtful meaning; ambiguous; uncertain; <as>as, <ex>equivocal</ex> words; an <ex>equivocal</ex> sentence.</as></def>

<blockquote>For the beauties of Shakespeare are not of so dim or <b>equivocal</b> a nature as to be visible only to learned eyes. <i>Jeffrey.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected; <as>as, his actions are <ex>equivocal</ex></as>.</def> "<i>Equivocal</i> repentances."