equable

English

WOTD – 21 July 2008

Alternative forms

• æquable (archaic)

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin aequābilis, from aequō (“make level”), from aequus (“even, level”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛk.wə.bəl/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

equable (comparative more equable, superlative most equable)

1. Unvarying, calm and steady; constant and uniform.
   • 1924, Herman Melville, Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co., Chapter 18, [1]

     Turning to the prisoner, "Budd," he said, and scarce in equable tones, "Budd, if you have aught further to say for yourself, say it now."

2. (of temperature) Free from extremes of heat or cold.
3. (of emotions etc) Not easily disturbed; tranquil.

Synonyms

• (unvarying, calm and steady): constant, uniform, unvarying
• (not easily disturbed): imperturbable, steady, tranquil
• (at a constant rate): regular

Derived terms

• equability
• equableness
• equably
• inequable
• unequable

 

Related terms

• equabile

 

Translations

calm and steady

• Bulgarian: спокоен (bg) (spokoen), уравновесен (bg) (uravnovesen)
• Dutch: gelijkmatig (nl)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: ро́вный (ru) (róvnyj), равноме́рный (ru) (ravnomérnyj)

free from extremes of heat or cold

• Bulgarian: равномерен (bg) (ravnomeren), умерен (bg) (umeren)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

not easily disturbed; tranquil

• Bulgarian: спокоен (bg) (spokoen)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: уравнове́шенный (ru) (uravnovéšennyj)

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Middle French

Adjective

equable m or f (plural equables)

1. equable (calm; steady; constant; uniform)