equant

[ee-kwuhnt, ee-kwant]

adjective

1. (of a crystal) having all axes of the same length (anisometric ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of equant¹

< Latin aequant-, stem of aequāns, present participle of aequāre; equate

Example Sentences

The big circle centred on the equant point is called a deferent.

From Literature

Furthermore, the system was often criticized as being unduly complicated, while the need for equant points made many thinkers uneasy—it raised doubts about whether the Earth ought really to be regarded as the centre of the Universe.

From Literature

The Earth was still regarded as the central object in the Universe, but everything else revolved around the equant points, not around the Earth itself.

From Literature

Copernicus proposed to abolish the equant, and to eliminate an epicycle for each planet further from the sun than the Earth by showing how the movement of the Earth created an apparent movement in the sky equivalent to an epicycle.

From Literature

Still, they were fascinated by the simplicity of his techniques for calculation, and thrilled at the idea that it might be possible to junk the equant.

From Literature