Middle English Dictionary Entry
ēqualitē n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ēqualitē n. |
| Etymology | OF equalité. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Evenness or smoothness of surface, texture, or consistency.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)156b/b : Þe see hatte equor and haþ þat name of equalite, euennesse, for he is euen and playne.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)51a/a : Difference [of wounds]..as of gretnez & litelnez, equalite & inequalite [*Ch.(2): of euennesse and of vneuennesse], profoundenez and superficite.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)37b/b : Gode maturacioun and equalite .i. euennesse..is loueable. Contrari forsoþ & granulous is shrewed.
2.
Equal distribution or harmonious blending of constituent parts, esp. of the 'elements' of nature or of the 'humours' of living organisms; harmony or balance.
Associated quotations
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)405 : Shap & colour and eche feture Were comproporcyond in swych equalyte That she myht be merour of al bewte.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2734 : Ethir stone, in kynde proporcioned they be; Of hete & eke of coldnes of oon equalite.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)20/16 : It consumeþ þe corrupt superflue humouris, and reducit nature to equalite.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.213 : The body of man..was so proporcionate to the sawle that equalite of complexion [L complexionis æqualitas] was in hit.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)66/19,20 : No hele ys but by equalyte of complexiouns, and non equalyte of complexiouns ys but by temperance of þe humours.
3.
An equal part or division.
Associated quotations
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.211 : If the wire be distreynde in to thre equalites [L in tria æqualia].
4.
Math. Identity.
Associated quotations
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)265 : Proporcion of equalite is whan 2o euyn þingis be likenyd eyþir sette to-gedir in comparison.
5.
Equality of rank.
Associated quotations
- [ c1450(c1420) Wyntoun Chron.(Roy 17.D.20)prol.60 : Suppos hys Lordschype lyk noucht be Tyll gret statys in eqwalyte. ]
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1475(c1450) ?Scrope Mirror World (Bod 283) 9260 : Equite is noon oother thyng but vnite, that is too seye, equalite.
Note: Ed.: "equalite: 'fairness, impartiality, equity' ([F] equalite)." Cf. OED equality, n., 3.
Note: New sense.