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EQU

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orders stood in contradiction to the senators; as tin: last did to thefoot, military, or infantry.

EQUIANGULAR," in geometry, an epithet applied to figureswhose angles a.e all equal: such are a square, an equilateral tri-angle, &c.

EQUICRURAL, in geometry, the same with isosceles, a termapplied to a triangle having two equal sides.

EQU I DIFFERENT Numbers, in arithmetic, numbers in arith-metical progression ; they are of two kinds, l. Continually equi-different is when, in a series of three numbers, there is the same dif-ference oetween the first and second, as there is between the secondand third; as 3, 6, 9. And 2. Discretely equidiil'erent, is when,in a series of four numbers or quantities, there is the same dif-ference between the first and second as there is between the thirdand fourth : such are 3, 6, 7, 10.

EQUIDISTANT, an appellation given to things placed atequal distance from some fixed point, or place, which they are re-ferred.

EQUILATERAL, in general, something that hath equal sides,as an equilateral triangle.

Equilateral Hyperbola, one whose transverse diameter isequal to its parameter; and so all the other diameters equal to theirparameters; in such an hyperbola, the asymptotes always cut oneanother at right angles in ihe centre. Its niostsinipie equation, withregard to the transverse axis, is y 1 = x*—a t ; and with regard tothe conjugate, y' ; — x- -j- a *, when a is the semitransverse, orsemi-conjugate. The length of the curve cannot be found by means ofthe quadrature of any space, of which a conic section is any part ofthe perimeter.

EQUILIBRIUM, in mechanics, is when the two ends of alever or balance bang so exactly even and level, that neither as-cends, nor descends, but both keep in a position parallel to thehorizon; beingboth charged with an equal weight. See M echanics.

EQUIMULTI PLES, in arithmetic and geometry, arenmnbersor quantities multiplied by one and the same number or quantity.Hence, equimultiples are always in the same ratio to each otheras the simple quantities before multiplication; thus, if six and eightare multiplied by four, the equimultiples 24 and 32 will be toeach other as six to eight.

EQUINOCTIAL, or EQUINOCTIAL, [aquus and nnx,

Lat.] in astronomy, a great and immoveable circle of the sphere, un-der which the equator moves in its diurnal motion. It is ordinarilyconfounded with the equator: but there is a difference ; the equa-tor being moveable, and the equinoctial immoveable; and thequator being drawn about the convex surface of the earth, but•he equinoctial on the concave surface of the heavens. Theshadows of those who live under this circle are east to the south-ward of them for one half of the year, and to the northward duringthe other hall; and twice in a year, viz. at the equinoxes, the sunat noon casts no shadow, being in their zenith. See Astro-nomy.

Equinoctial Dial, that whose plane lies parallel to the equi-noctial. See Dialing.

EtiuiNocTTALPoiNTs are the two points wherein the equator andecliptic intersect each other: the one, being in the first point ofjuries, is called the vernal point or equinox ; and the other, in thefirst point of I ibra, the autumnal point or equinox. The equi-noctial points, and all the other points of the ecliptic, are contimi-* v moving backward, or in antecedents, i. e. westward. Thisrograde motion is that famous and difficult phenomenon calledEo'nTv 0 ” equinoxes. See Astronomy.nocti i the time when the sun enters either of the equi-

i„ a Points, where the ecliptic intersects the equinoctial. See

FQ rn P MY ; an ? EwihoctiL.

Ucc" • AGE’.ln military art, denotes all sorts of utensils, artillery,■ necessary for commencing and prosecuting with ease and sttc-ef ( S aM ^ 7"' llar y operations. Camp and field equipage consistsl*orse't S ’& ^ en ^" r nhuve, saddle horses, baggage, waggons, bat

EQUIPOLLENCE, in logic, is when there is an equivalence,>lla?^ t:nlent, e '^ er as to Ihe nature of the thing, or as to the grain-Dro ICa ^f ? ense _°f >uiy two, or more propositions : that is, when twoafter'diffbr' 5 one ailt * l ^ ,e same thing, though they express it

KQUIRIA, in antiquity, a festival instituted by Romulus, andVOL. n,— no. 76.

F. Q U

celebrated on the 27th of February, iu honour of Mars , at whichthere were horse-races.

EQU1SETUM, Horsetail : A genus of the order Alices,and cryptogamia class of plants; natural order, Conifers:. Thereis a spike ol peltated or shielded fructifications opening at the base.There are seven species: natives of Europe in woods and shadyplaces.

EQUITES, amongst the Romans, were persons of the seconddegree of nobility, next to the senators iu point of rank. Theequites or knights were required to be possessed of 400 sestertia be-fore they could be admitted into that order ; and when they wereso reduced as to fall short of the prescribed revenue, they were c.x-puuged out of the equestrian list. This revenue amounted toabout 10,000 crowns. Part of the ceremony whereby the honourof knighthood was conferred amongst the Romans was the givingof a horse; every eques received also the stipend of a horsemanto serve in the wars, and wore a ring which was given him by thestate.

EQUITY, in a general sense, the virtue of treating all othermen according to reason and justice, or as we would be treatedourselves when we understand aright wliat is our due. See .Jus-tice.

Equity, in jurisprudence, is defined a correction or qualificationof the law, generally made in that part wherein it faileth or is toosevere. It likewise signifies the extension of the words of the lawto cases unexpressed, yet having the same reason; so that whereone thing is enacted by statute, all other things are enacted thatare of the like degree, e. g. the statute of Gloucester gives action ofwaste against him that holds lands for life or years; and by theequity thereof, a man shall have action of waste against a tenantthat holds but for one year, or one half-year, which is without thewords of the act, but within the meaning of it; and the words thatenact the one, by equity enact the other. So that equity is of twokinds. The one abridges and takes from the letter of the law : theother enlarges and adds to it; and statutes may be construed ac-cording to equity, especially where they give remedy for wrong,or are for expedition of justice. Equity seems to be the inter-posing law of reason, exercised by the lord chancellor in extraor-dinary matters to do equal justice; and by supplying the defectsof the law, gives remedy in all cases.

Equity, in mythology, sometimes confounded with Justice, agoddess among the Greeks and Romans, represented with a swordin one hand and a balance in the other.

EQUIVALENT PROPOSITIONS, those that signify thesame thing differently expressed.

Equivalent Terms are where several words that differ in soundhave yet one and the same signification ; as every body was there,and nobody was absent; nihil non, and omne.

Equivalent Things, are either moral, physical, or statical. 1.Moral ; e. g. the commanding or advi-ing a murder is a guilt tqui-valent to that of the murderer. 2. Physical; a man w ho has thestrength of two men is said to be equivalent to two men. 3. Sta-tical ; a less weight becomes equivalent in force w ith a greater^by having its distance from the centre increased.

EQUIVOCAL Terms, or Words. Words of doubtfulsignification. Mr. Locke observes, that the doubtfulness and un-certainty of words has its cause more in the ideas themselves, thanin any incapacity of the words to signify them; and might beavoided, would people always use the same term to denote thesame idea or collection of ideas: but, adds he, it is hard to finda discourse on any subject where this is the case; a practice whichcan only be imputed to folly or great dishonesty; since a man, inmaking up his accounts, might with as much fairness use thenumeral characters sometimes tor one sometimes for another col-lection of units.

EQUIVOCATIONS are expedients to save telling the truth,and yet without telling a falsity. The fathers were too much ad-dicted to equivocations.

EQUULEUS, or 'ECCULEUS, in antiquity, a kind of rackused for extorting a confession, at first chiefly practised on slaves,but afterwards made use of against the Christians.

Equuleus, Equiculus, or Equus Minor, in astronomy, thehorse’s head; a constellation of the northern hemisphere. SeeAstronomy.

EQUUS, in zoology, a genus of the class mammalia and order4 M Mime,