Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Unvarying; steady.
  • adjective Not easily disturbed; serene.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Characterized by uniformity, invariableness, or evenness; equal and uniform at all times; regular in action or intensity; not varying; steady: as, an equable temperature.
  • Even; smooth; having a uniform surface or form: as, an equable globe or plain.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Equal and uniform; continuing the same at different times; -- said of motion, and the like; uniform in surface; smooth.
  • adjective Uniform in action or intensity; not variable or changing; -- said of the feelings or temper.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Unvarying, Calm and steady; constant and uniform.
  • adjective of temperature Free from extremes of heat or cold.
  • adjective of emotions, etc. Not easily disturbed; tranquil.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective not easily irritated
  • adjective not varying

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin aequābilis, from aequāre, to make even, from aequus, even, level.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin aequābilis, from aequō ("make level"), from aequus ("even, level").

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Examples

  • I have adopted the term equable marketing to designate this interesting attempt to solve the problem of distribution in Han times.

    Discourses On Salt and Iron 1931

  • "The present arrangement is more or less temporary," she commenced in equable tones.

    Just Patty 1911

  • So the system came to be known as equable marketing.

    Discourses On Salt and Iron 1931

  • In the year 115 B.C., officers to "equalize distribution", chün shu, which may be termed equable marketing, were appointed.

    Discourses On Salt and Iron 1931

  • It is given to you to teach lessons of the utmost importance to mankind, in maintaining the principle that no progress can be real which is not equable, which is not proportionate, which does not develop all the faculties belonging to our nature.

    Model Speeches for Practise Grenville Kleiser 1910

  • It is given to you to teach lessons of the utmost importance to mankind, in maintaining the principle that no progress can be real which is not equable, which is not proportionate, which does not develop all the faculties belonging to our nature.

    Modern Eloquence: Vol II, After-Dinner Speeches E-O Various 1870

  • We have not yet seen that your marketing is "equable".

    Discourses On Salt and Iron 1931

  • (as, for instance, "equable," "gratitudes," and many others), and by twisting or translation of its classical equivalents and etymons give it some quite new sense in English.

    A History of Elizabethan Literature George Saintsbury 1889

  • On the other hand, he was sweet-tempered and equable, and he did not resent the early shows of crustiness which Michael made.

    CHAPTER XXIX 2010

  • I didn't care over-weeningly for it for personal gratification; and in my philosophy I completed the circle, finding myself as equable with the lack of a ten-cent piece as I was with the squandering of scores of dollars in calling all men and hangers-on up to the bar to drink with me.

    Chapter 18 2010

Comments

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  • Not to be confused with equitable, meaning "fair and impartial."

    September 15, 2023