adj. 1. 1 undecided as to whether or not to take a proposed course of action; having feelings both for and against the proposed action.
Syn. -- on the fence(predicate), suspensive, uncertain [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. bis twice + valens, p. pr. See Valence. ] (Chem.) Equivalent in combining or displacing power to two atoms of hydrogen; dyad. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. di- + L. valens, valentis, p. pr. See Valence. ] (Chem.) Having two units of combining power; bivalent. Cf. Valence. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. aequivalens, -entis, p. pr. of aequivalere to have equal power; aequus equal + valere to be strong, be worth: cf. F. équivalent. See Equal, and Valiant. ] 1. Equal in worth or value, force, power, effect, import, and the like; alike in significance and value; of the same import or meaning. [ 1913 Webster ]

For now to serve and to minister, servile and ministerial, are terms equivalent. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Geom.) Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; -- applied to magnitudes; as, a square may be equivalent to a triangle. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Geol.) Contemporaneous in origin; as, the equivalent strata of different countries. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Something equivalent; that which is equal in value, worth, weight, or force; as, to offer an equivalent for damage done. [ 1913 Webster ]

He owned that, if the Test Act were repealed, the Protestants were entitled to some equivalent. . . . During some weeks the word equivalent, then lately imported from France, was in the mouths of all the coffeehouse orators. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Chem.) That comparative quantity by weight of an element which possesses the same chemical value as other elements, as determined by actual experiment and reference to the same standard. Specifically: (a) The comparative proportions by which one element replaces another in any particular compound; thus, as zinc replaces hydrogen in hydrochloric acid, their equivalents are 32.5 and 1. (b) The combining proportion by weight of a substance, or the number expressing this proportion, in any particular compound; as, the equivalents of hydrogen and oxygen in water are respectively 1 and 8, and in hydric dioxide 1 and 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This term was adopted by Wollaston to avoid using the conjectural expression atomic weight, with which, however, for a time it was practically synonymous. The attempt to limit the term to the meaning of a universally comparative combining weight failed, because of the possibility of several compounds of the substances by reason of the variation in combining power which most elements exhibit. The equivalent was really identical with, or a multiple of submultiple of, the atomic weight. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Chem.) A combining unit, whether an atom, a radical, or a molecule; as, in acid salt two or more equivalents of acid unite with one or more equivalents of base. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mechanical equivalent of heat (Physics), originally defined as the number of units of work which the unit of heat can perform, equivalent to the mechanical energy which must be expended to raise the temperature of a pound of water one degree Fahrenheit; later this value was defined as one British thermal unit (B.t.u). Its value was found by Joule to be 772 foot pounds; later measurements give the value as 777.65 foot-pounds, equivalent to 107.5 kg-meters. This value was originally called Joule's equivalent, but the modern Joule is defined differently, being 107 ergs. The B.t.u. is now given as 1, 054.35 absolute Joules, and therefore 1 calorie (the amount of heat needed to raise one gram of water one degree centigrade) is equivalent to 4.186 Joules. [ 1913 Webster + PJC ]

☞ The original definition of the Mechanical equivalent of heat in the 1913 Webster was as below. The difference between foot pounds and kilogram-meters ("on the centigrade scale") is puzzling as it should be a factor of 7.23, and the figure given for kilogram-meters may be a mistaken misinterpretation of the report. -- PJC:

The number of units of work which the unit of heat can perform; the mechanical energy which must be expended to raise the temperature of a unit weight of water from 0° C. to 1° C., or from 32° F. to 33° F. The term was introduced by Dr. Mayer of Heilbronn. Its value was found by Joule to be 1390 foot pounds upon the Centigrade, or 772 foot pounds upon the Fahrenheit, thermometric scale, whence it is often called Joule's equivalent, and represented by the symbol J. This is equal to 424 kilogram meters (Centigrade scale). A more recent determination by Professor Rowland gives the value 426.9 kilogram meters, for the latitude of Baltimore. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. t. To make the equivalent to; to equal; equivalence. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an equal manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Hepta- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valence. ] (Chem.) Having seven units of attractive force or affinity; -- said of heptad elements or radicals. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Hexa- + L. valens, -entis, p. pr. See Valence. ] (Chem.) Having a valence of six; -- said of hexads. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Mono- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valence. ] (Chem.) Having a valence of one; univalent. See Univalent. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Multi- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valence. ] 1. (Chem.) (a) Having a valence greater than one, as silicon. (b) Having more than one degree of valence, as sulphur. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Immunology) Having multiple antigen-binding sites; -- of antibody molecules. [ PJC ]

3. (Immunology) Containing several types of antibody, to protect against more than one disease; polyvalent; -- of vaccines. [ PJC ]

adj. Not equal or interchangeable in value, quantity, or significance. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Octa- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valence. ] (Chem.) Having a valence of eight; capable of being combined with, exchanged for, or compared with, eight atoms of hydrogen; -- said of certain atoms or radicals. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Omni- + prevalent. ] Prevalent everywhere or in all things. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Penta- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valence. ] (Chem.) Having a valence of five; -- said of certain atoms and radicals. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Poly- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valent. ] (Chem.) Multivalent. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praevalens, -entis, p. pr. of praevalere. See Prevail. ] 1. Gaining advantage or superiority; having superior force, influence, or efficacy; prevailing; predominant; successful; victorious. [ 1913 Webster ]

Brennus told the Roman embassadors, that prevalent arms were as good as any title. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Most generally received or current; most widely adopted or practiced; also, generally or extensively existing; widespread; prevailing; as, a prevalent observance; prevalent disease. [ 1913 Webster ]

This was the most received and prevalent opinion. Woodward. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Prevailing; predominant; successful; efficacious; powerful. -- Prevalent, Prevailing. What customarily prevails is prevalent; as, a prevalent fashion. What actually prevails is prevailing; as, the prevailing winds are west. Hence, prevailing is the livelier and more pointed word, since it represents a thing in action. It is sometimes the stronger word, since a thing may prevail sufficiently to be called prevalent, and yet require greater strength to make it actually prevailing. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a prevalent manner. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Quadri- + L. valens, -entis, p. pr. See Valence. ] (Chem.) Having a valence of four; capable of combining with, being replaced by, or compared with, four monad atoms; tetravalent; -- said of certain atoms and radicals; thus, carbon and silicon are quadrivalent elements. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to quantivalence. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Quinque- + L. valens, -entis, p. pr. See Valence. ] (Chem.) Same as Pentavalent. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Sexivalent. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Sex- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valence. ] (hem.) Hexavalent. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Tetra- + L. valens, -entis, p. pr. ] (Chem.) Having a valence of four; tetratomic; quadrivalent. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. tri- + L. valens, -entis, p. pr. See Valence. ] (Chem.) Having a valence of three; capable of being combined with, substituted for, or compared with, three atoms of hydrogen; -- said of triad atoms or radicals; thus, nitrogen is trivalent in ammonia. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Uni- + L. valens, -entis, p. pr. See Valence. ] (Chem.) Having a valence of one; capable of combining with, or of being substituted for, one atom of hydrogen; monovalent; -- said of certain atoms and radicals. [ 1913 Webster ]

See obnoxious.
See observable.
See observant.
See obstructive.
See obvious.
See official.
See officious.
See oppressive.
See ordinary.
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See participant.
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See pathetic.
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See peaceful.
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See premeditable.
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See prevalent.
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See revengeful.
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See romantic.
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See sentimental.
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See suggestive.
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See suspicious.
See sustainable.
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See workmanlike.
See worldly.
See worshipful.
See wrathful.
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------ and the like.
[ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Valencia. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A sweetheart chosen on St. Valentine's Day. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A letter containing professions of love, or a missive of a sentimental, comic, or burlesque character, sent on St. Valentine's Day. [ 1913 Webster ]

St. Valentine's Day, a day sacred to St. Valentine; the 14th of February. It was a very old notion, alluded to by Shakespeare, that on this day birds begin to mate. Hence, perhaps, arose the custom of sending love tokens at that time. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a school of Judaizing Gnostics in the second century; -- so called from Valentinus, the founder. [ 1913 Webster ]