equal: [14] Latin aequus (a word of unknown ancestry) meant ‘level’ or ‘even’. From it was derived the adjective aequālis ‘equal’, which has provided the term for ‘equal’ in all the modern Romance languages, including French égal (source of English egalitarian [19]), Italian uguale, and Spanish igual. English, however, is the only Germanic language in which it constitutes a major borrowing.
English also possesses, of course, a host of related words, including adequate [17], equanimity [17], equate [15], equation [14] equator [14] (etymologically the line of latitude that ‘equalizes’ day and night), and iniquity [14] (etymologically the equivalent of inequality), not to mention all those beginning with the prefix equi-, such as equidistant [16], equilibrium [17] (literally ‘equal balance’, from Latin lībra ‘balance’), equinox [14], equity [14], and equivalent [15]. => adequate, egalitarian, equator, equity, iniquity
equal (adj.)
late 14c., "identical in amount, extent, or portion;" early 15c., "even or smooth of surface," from Latin aequalis "uniform, identical, equal," from aequus "level, even, flat; as tall as, on a level with; friendly, kind, just, fair, equitable, impartial; proportionate; calm, tranquil," which is of unknown origin. Parallel formation egal (from Old French egal) was in use late 14c.-17c. Equal rights is from 1752; by 1854, American English, in relation to men and women. Equal opportunity (adj.) in terms of hiring, etc. is recorded by 1925.
equal (v.)
1580s, "compare, liken, consider as equal" (obsolete), also "match, rival, become equal to," from equal (adj.). Related: Equaled; equaling.
equal (n.)
1570s, from equal (adj.).
雙語例句
1. In many respects Asian women see themselves as equal to their men.
在很多方面，亞洲女性都認為自己和丈夫是平等的。
來自柯林斯例句
2. They are now trying to compete on an equal footing.
他們現在想要公平競爭。
來自柯林斯例句
3. The targets would not be achieved unless other departments showed equal commitment.
除非其他部門同樣努力，否則這些目標無法達成。
來自柯林斯例句
4. Any number to the power of nought is equal to one.
任何數的0次方等于1。
來自柯林斯例句
5. We are giving an equal area of land to the landless.