[W/K] :: Equivalent

  Equivalent \E*quiv"a*lent\ ([-e]*kw[i^]v"[.a]*lent), a. [L.
     aequivalens, -entis, p. pr. of aequivalere to have equal
     power; aequus equal + valere to be strong, be worth: cf. F.
     ['e]quivalent. See Equal, and Valiant.]
     1. Equal in worth or value, force, power, effect, import, and
        the like; alike in significance and value; of the same
        import or meaning.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              For now to serve and to minister, servile and
              ministerial, are terms equivalent.    --South.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Geom.) Equal in measure but not admitting of
        superposition; -- applied to magnitudes; as, a square may
        be equivalent to a triangle.
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     3. (Geol.) Contemporaneous in origin; as, the equivalent
        strata of different countries.
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  Equivalent \E*quiv"a*lent\ ([-e]*kw[i^]v"[.a]*lent), n.
     1. Something equivalent; that which is equal in value, worth,
        weight, or force; as, to offer an equivalent for damage
        done.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              He owned that, if the Test Act were repealed, the
              Protestants were entitled to some equivalent. . . .
              During some weeks the word equivalent, then lately
              imported from France, was in the mouths of all the
              coffeehouse orators.                  --Macaulay.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Chem.) 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:
        (a) The comparative proportions by which one element
            replaces another in any particular compound; thus, as
            zinc replaces hydrogen in hydrochloric acid, their
            equivalents are 32.5 and 1.
        (b) The combining proportion by weight of a substance, or
            the number expressing this proportion, in any
            particular compound; as, the equivalents of hydrogen
            and oxygen in water are respectively 1 and 8, and in
            hydric dioxide 1 and 16.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: This term was adopted by Wollaston to avoid using the
           conjectural expression atomic weight, 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 equivalent was
           really identical with, or a multiple of submultiple of,
           the atomic weight.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Chem.) A combining unit, whether an atom, a radical, or a
        molecule; as, in acid salt two or more equivalents of acid
        unite with one or more equivalents of base.
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     Mechanical equivalent of heat (Physics), originally defined
        as the number of units of work which the unit of heat can
        perform, equivalent to the mechanical energy which must be
        expended to raise the temperature of a pound of water one
        degree Fahrenheit; later this value was defined as one
        British thermal unit (B.t.u). Its value was found by
        Joule to be 772 foot pounds; later measurements give the
        value as 777.65 foot-pounds, equivalent to 107.5
        kg-meters. This value was originally called Joule's
        equivalent, but the modern Joule is defined differently,
        being 10^{7 ergs. The B.t.u. is now given as 1,054.35
        absolute Joules, and therefore 1 calorie (the amount of
        heat needed to raise one gram of water one degree
        centigrade) is equivalent to 4.186 Joules.
        [1913 Webster + PJC]
  
     Note: The original definition of the Mechanical equivalent of
           heat in the 1913 Webster was as below. The difference
           between foot pounds and kilogram-meters ("on the
           centigrade scale") is puzzling as it should be a factor
           of 7.23, and the figure given for kilogram-meters may
           be a mistaken misinterpretation of the report. -- PJC:
           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 Joule's equivalent, 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.
           [1913 Webster +PJC]

  Equivalent \E*quiv"a*lent\, v. t.
     To make the equivalent to; to equal; equivalence. [R.]
     [1913 Webster]

  equivalent
       adj 1: equal in amount or value; "like amounts"; "equivalent
              amounts"; "the same amount"; "gave one six blows and
              the other a like number"; "an equal number"; "the same
              number" [syn: like, equal, same] [ant: unlike]
       2: being essentially equal to something; "it was as good as
          gold"; "a wish that was equivalent to a command"; "his
          statement was tantamount to an admission of guilt" [syn: tantamount(p)]
       n 1: a person or thing equal to another in value or measure or
            force or effect or significance etc; "send two dollars
            or the equivalent in stamps"
       2: the atomic weight of an element that has the same combining
          capacity as a given weight of another element; the
          standard is 8 for oxygen [syn: equivalent weight, combining
          weight, eq]

  252 Moby Thesaurus words for "equivalent":
     Doppelganger, accordant, actual thing, affirmative, agent, agnate,
     agreeable, agreeing, akin, alike, all one, all the same, ally,
     alter ego, alternate, alternative, analogon, analogous, analogue,
     analogy, answerable, answering, associate, at one, backup, balance,
     ballast, brother, carbon copy, change, changeable, changeling,
     close, close copy, close match, coequal, coexistent, coexisting,
     coextensive, cognate, coherent, coincident, coincidental,
     coinciding, commensurate, commutable, commutative, companion,
     comparable, comparison, compatible, compeer, complement,
     complemental, complementary, concordant, concurring, conformable,
     congenator, congener, congenial, congruent, congruous,
     consentaneous, consentient, consideration, consistent, consonant,
     convertible, cooperating, cooperative, coordinate, copy, correlate,
     correlative, correspondent, corresponding, coterminous,
     counterbalance, counterfeit, counterpart, counterpoise,
     counterweight, dead ringer, deputy, ditto, double, dummy,
     duplicate, en rapport, equal, equalizing, equiparant, equipoise,
     equipollent, ersatz, even, exact counterpart, exchange, exchanged,
     facsimile, fake, fellow, fill-in, ghost, ghostwriter,
     give-and-take, harmonious, homograph, homologous, homonym,
     homophone, idem, identic, identical, identical same, image,
     imitation, in accord, in agreement, in rapport, in sync,
     in synchronization, inaccordance, indistinguishable, inharmony,
     interchangeable, interchanged, kindred spirit, like, like-minded,
     likeness, locum tenens, makeshift, makeweight, match, matching,
     mate, metaphor, metonymy, mock, much the same, mutual,
     near duplicate, next best thing, no other, none other, obverse,
     of a kind, of a piece, of a size, of like mind, of one mind,
     offset, on all fours, opposite number, parallel, paralleling, peer,
     pendant, permutable, personnel, phony, picture, pinch,
     pinch hitter, positive, proportionate, provisional, proxy,
     quid pro quo, reciprocal, reciprocating, reciprocative,
     reconcilable, relief, replacement, replica, representative,
     reserve, reserves, retaliatory, returnable, ringer, rival,
     second self, second string, secondary, self-consistent, selfsame,
     setoff, sign, similar, similitude, simulacrum, sister,
     something of value, soul mate, spare, spares, spit and image,
     spitting image, stand-in, standard, stopgap, sub, substituent,
     substitute, substitution, succedaneum, such, suchlike, superseder,
     supplanter, surrogate, swapped, switched, symbiotic, symbol,
     synchronized, synchronous, synecdoche, synonym, synonymous, tally,
     tantamount, temporary, tentative, the like of, the likes of,
     the same, the same difference, third string, tit for tat, token,
     traded, transposed, twin, unanimous, understudy, undifferenced,
     uniform, unisonant, unisonous, utility, utility player, very image,
     very same, vicar, vicarious, vice-president, vice-regent
  
  

  EQUIVALENT. Of the same value. Sometimes a condition must be literally 
  accomplished in forma specifica; but some may be fulfilled by an equivalent, 
  per oequi polens, when such appears to be the intention of the parties; as, 
  I promise to pay you one hundred dollars, and then die, my executor may 
  fulfill my engagement; for it is equivalent to you whether the money be paid 
  to you b me or by him. Roll. Ab. 451; 1 Bouv. Inst. n. 760.