I.that can be put on an equality with; conseq., equal, like; constr. with dat., absol. and as subst. with gen. (syn.: aequus, aequabilis, planus, par, similis).
I. Lit.: “partem pedis esse aequalom alteri parti,” Cic. Or. 56, 188: “paupertatem divitiis etiam inter homines aequalem esse,” id. Leg. 2, 10, 24: “aequalem se faciens Deo,” Vulg. Joan. 5, 18: “aequales angelis sunt,” like, ib. Luc. 20, 36: “nec enim aut linguā aut moribus aequales abhorrere (Bastarnas a Scordiscis),” Liv. 40, 57, 7: “ut sententiae sint membris aequalibus,” Quint. 9, 3, 80: “aequalis ponderis erunt omnes,” Vulg. Exod. 30, 34; ib. Deut. 19, 7; ib. Apoc. 21, 16.—As subst. with gen.: “Creticus et ejus aequalis Paeon,” Cic. Or. 64, 215. (Another constr., v. II.)—Hence,
II. Transf.
A. That can be compared in respect to age, of the same age, equally old.
1. Of persons.
a. Of the same age, equal in years: cum neque me aspicere aequales dignarent meae. Pac. ap. Non. 470, 20 (Trag. Rel. p. 97 Rib.): patris cognatum atque aequalem, Archidemidem, nostine? Ter Eun. 2, 3, 35: “adulescens ita dilexi senem, ut aequalem,” Cic. Sen. 4, 10: “P. Orbius, meus fere aequalis,” id. Brut. 48 init.: “Aristides aequalis fere ruit Themistocli,” Nep. Arist. 1 al.—
b. In gen., contemporary, coeval; and subst., a contemporary, without definite reference to equality in age; “Livius (Andronicus) Ennio aequalis fuit,” Cic. Brut. 18: “Philistus aequalis illorum temporum,” id. Div 1, 20; Liv. 8, 40.—
c. In the comic poets, esp. in connection with amicus, of the same age: “O amice salve mi atque aequalis, ut vales?” Plaut. Trin. 1, 2, 10; 2, 2, 50; Ter. Heaut. 3, 1, 8; so id. Ad. 3, 4, 26: “ne cuiquam suorum aequalium supplex siet,” id. Phorm. 5, 6, 47.—
2. Of things, coexal, coexistent, etc.: “Deiotari benevolentia in populum Romanum est ipsius aequalis aetati,” is as old as himself, has grown up with him, Cic. Phil. 11, 13: “in memoriam notam et aequalem incurro,” i. e. which belongs to our time, id. Brut. 69; id. Leg. 1, 2: ne istud Juppiter sierit urbem in aeternum conditam fragili huic et mortali corpori aequalem esse, i. e. should exist for an equally short time, Liv 28, 28.—Rarely with cum: “aequali tecum pubesceret aevo,” Verg. A. 3, 491: “fuit cum ea cupressus aequalis,” Plin. 16, 44, 86, § 236.—
B. That can be compared in respect to size or form; of equal size, looking alike, resembling, similar: “florentes aequali corpore Nymphae,” Verg. Cir. 435: “chorus aequalis Dryadum,” a chorus of Dryads alike, id. G. 4, 460.—
C. Uniform, equable, unvarying; virtutes sunt inter se aequales et pares, Cic. de Or, 1, 18; “3, 14, 55: nil aequale homini fuit illi,” Hor. S. 1, 3, 9: “imber lentior aequaliorque,” and more uniform, Liv. 24, 46: “aequali ictu freta scindere, Ov M. 11, 463: Euphranor in quocumque genere excellens ac sibi aequalis,” always equal to himself, Plin. 35, 11, 37, § 128: “opus aequali quadam mediocritate,” Quint. 10, 1, 54.—Hence, but rarely, = aequus, of place, equal, uniform, level, smooth, even, plain, both in a horizontal and ascending direction: “loca,” Sall. J. 79: “terra,” Ov. M. 1, 34: “gentes esse sine naribus aequali totius oris planitie,” Plin. 6, 30, 35, § 187: “mons aequali dorso continuus,” Tac. A. 4, 47.—Comp. prob. not used.—* Sup.: “aequalissima porticus,” Tert. Anim. 17.— Adv.: aequālĭter , equally, uniformly, in the same manner, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 70; id. Ac. 2, 11; id. Lael. 16, 58; Caes. B. G. 2, 18; Vulg. Deut. 19, 3; ib. 1 Par. 24, 31; ib. Sap. 6, 8.—Comp., Tac. A. 15, 21.—Sup. not used.
