constant

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Origin: L. onstans, -antis, p. pr. of constare to stand firm, to be consistent; con- + stare to stand: cf. F. constant. See Stand and cf. Cost, transitive verb

1. Firm; solid; fixed; immovable; — opposed to fluid. obsolete

If... you mix them, you may turn these two fluid liquors into a constant body.— Robert Boyle

2. Not liable, or given, to change; permanent; regular; continuous; continually recurring; steadfast; faithful; not fickle. Opposite of changeable and variable.

Both loving one fair maid, they yet remained constant friends.— Sir Philip Sidney

I am constant to my purposes.— William Shakespeare

His gifts, his constant courtship, nothing gained.— John Dryden

Onward the constant current sweeps.— Henry W. Longfellow

3. Math. & Physics Remaining unchanged or invariable, as a quantity, force, law, etc.

4. Consistent; logical. obsolete William Shakespeare

Synonyms: Fixed; steadfast; unchanging; permanent; unalterable; immutable; invariable; perpetual; continual; resolute; firm; unshaken; determined. — Constant, Continual, Perpetual. These words are sometimes used in an absolute and sometimes in a qualified sense. Constant denotes, in its absolute sense, unchangeably fixed; as, a constant mind or purpose. In its qualified sense, it marks something as a “standing” fact or occurence; as, liable to constant interruptions; constantly called for. Continual, in its absolute sense, coincides with continuous. See Continuous. In its qualified sense, it describes a thing as occuring in steady and rapid succession; as, a round of continual calls; continually changing. Perpetual denotes, in its absolute sense, what literally never ceases or comes to an end; as, perpetual motion. In its qualified sense, it is used hyperbolically, and denotes that which rarely ceases; as, perpetual disturbance; perpetual noise; perpetual intermeddling.

1. That which is not subject to change; that which is invariable.

2. Mathematics A quantity that does not change its value; — used in countradistinction to variable.

3. Astronomy A number whose value, when ascertained (as by observation) and substituted in a general mathematical formula expressing an astronomical law, completely determines that law and enables predictions to be made of its effect in particular cases.

4. Physics A number expressing some property or condition of a substance or of an instrument of precision; as, the dielectric constant of quartz; the collimation constant of a transit instrument.

5. Computers a data structure that does not change during the course of execution of a program. It may be a number, a string, or a more complex data structure; — contrasted with variable.

Aberration constant, or Constant of aberration Astronomy, a number which by substitution in the general formula for aberration enables a prediction to be made of the effect of aberration on a star anywhere situated. Its value is 20″.47. — Absolute constant Mathematics, one whose value is absolutely the same under all circumstances, as the number 10, or any numeral. — Arbitrary constant, an undetermined constant in a differential equation having the same value during all changes in the values of the variables. — Gravitation constant Physics, the acceleration per unit of time produced by the attraction of a unit of mass at unit distance. When this is known the acceleration produced at any distance can be calculated. — Solar constant Astronomy, the quantity of heat received by the earth from the sun in a unit of time. It is, on the C. G. S. system, 0.0417 small calories per square centimeter per second. Edward Young — Constant of integration Mathematics, an undetermined constant added to every result of integration. [ + ]

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: 1913 supplement, GCIDE editors