aequābĭlĭs, e, adj. [aequo], that can be made equal, equal, similar, like (“aequalis alterius staturae par; aequabile quod aequari potest,” Front. Differ. 2198 P.); class.; in Cic. very freq. (syn.: aequalis, aequus, planus, par, similis).
- I. Lit.: vis hostilis cum istoc fecit meas opes aequabiles, has made my property equal to his, Plaut. Capt. 2, 2, 52: par (sc. est jus), quod in omnes aequabile est, Cic. Inv. 2, 22, 68: praedae partitio, id. Off. 2, 11: in descriptione aequabili sumptus, id. Fl. 14, so id. N D. 1, 19 et saep.: mixtura vitiorum atque virtutum, Suet. Dom. 3.
- II. Transf
- A. Equal, consistent, uniform, equable; ut haec patientia dolorum … in omni genere se aequabilem praebeat, may appear as constantly equal to itself, Cic. Tusc. 2, 27; motus certus et aequabilis, id. N. D. 2, 9: moderati aequabilesque habitus, id. Fin 5, 12: fluvius, which always continues with the same current, id. Rep. 2, 5; so, pulvis, Sall. J. 53: aequabilior firmitas, Sen. Ep. 74: ver aequabile, Lact. 2, 11, 2.
Hence, of discourse: aequabile et temperatum orationis genus, even and moderate style (opp vis dicendi major in orationibus, Cic. Off. 1, 1); tractus orationis lenis et aequabilis, id. de Or. 2, 13, 54: genus orationis fusum atque tractum et cum lenitate quadam aequabile profluens, id. ib. 15, 64.
- B. In relation to morals, equitable, just, right; constr. with in and acc. or absol.: status rei publicae. non in omnes ordines civitatis aequabilis, Cic. Rep. 2, 37: fidus Romanis, aequabilis in suos, Tac. A. 6, 31: jus aequabile, that deals alike with all, Cic. Inv. 1, 2: aequabilium legum conditor, Aur, Vict. Caes. 20, 23.
Comp., Cic. Att. 5, 20.
Adv.: aequābĭlĭter, uniformly, equally, in like manner, Cato, R. R. 103; Varr. R. R. 1, 6, 6; Cic. Off. 2, 11; id. N. D. 2, 45 et saep.
Comp., Sall. C. 2.
Sup. does not occur either in the adj. or adv.