Equal, adj. 1) being of the same quantity or quality: Merch. III, 4, 13 (Ff Q2. 3 egal, q. v.). All's I, 2, 2. Tw. III, 4, 16. John II, 358. H5 V, 2, 23. H8 I, 1, 29. II, 2, 108. Cor. I, 10, 14. Hml. III, 2, 73. Ant. III, 4, 35. With to: “unfold e. discourtesy to your best kindness,” Cymb. II, 3, 101. Per. II, 1, 117. With with: “now grown in grace e. with wondering,” Wint. IV, 1, 25 (her beauty equalled, deserved the admiration it caused). “my vows are e. partners with thy vows,” H6A III, 2, 85. “let thy tongue be e. with thy heart,” H6B V, 1, 89 (== speak what you think). “wishing his foot were e. with his eye,” H6C III, 2, 137 (wishing to be at the distance which he sees from far).
Substantively: he has no e. (in pride) Cor. I, 1, 257. “as some my --s did,” Compl. 148 (some in the same situation).
Adverbially: “he is e. ravenous as he is subtle,” H8 I, 1, 159.
2) of the same rank: “bestow thy fawning smiles on e. mates,” Gentl. III, 1, 158. “mated with an e. husband,” Tim. I, 1, 140. cf. “on e. terms,” R2 IV, 22. “in e. rank,” H4B V, 2, 137.
Substantively: “where your e. grew,” Sonn. 84, 4. “she is no e. for his birth,” Ado II, 1, 171. “his e. had awaked them,” All's I, 2, 38. “this and my food are --s,” Tim. I, 2, 61.
3) of the same weight, counter-poising each other: “e. poise of sin and charity,” Meas. II, 4, 68. “let the forfeit be nominated for an e. pound of your fair flesh,” Merch. I, 3, 150 (== an exact pound, just of the weight of a pound). “in justice' e. scales,” H6B II, 1, 204. H4B IV, 1, 67. H6C II, 5, 13. Hml. I, 2, 13. Cymb. III, 6, 78. Figuratively: “son and father weep with e. strife,” Lucr. 1791. “a more e. enterprise,” As I, 2, 188 (not beyond one's power). Adverbially: “her dowry shall weigh e. with a queen,” John II, 486. “his taints and honours waged e. with him,” Ant. V, 1, 31.
4) just, impartial: “justice always whirls in e. measure,” LLL IV, 3, 384. “having here no judge indifferent, nor no more assurance of e. friendship and proceeding,” H8 II, 4, 18.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
This text was converted to electronic form by professional data entry and has been proofread to a high level of accuracy.
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