Con"stant (?), a. [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,
v. t.] 1. Firm; solid;
fixed; immovable; -- opposed to fluid. [Obs.]
If . . . you mix them, you may turn these two
fluid liquors into a constant body.
Boyle.
2. Not liable, or given, to change;
permanent; regular; continuous; continually recurring; steadfast;
faithful; not fickle.
Both loving one fair maid, they yet remained
constant friends.
Sir P. Sidney.
I am constant to my purposes.
Shak.
His gifts, his constant courtship, nothing
gained.
Dryden.
Onward the constant current sweeps.
Longfellow.
3. (Math. & Physics) Remaining
unchanged or invariable, as a quantity, force, law, etc.
Contrasted with variable.
4. Consistent; logical. [Obs.]
Shak.
Syn. -- 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.
Con"stant, n. 1.
That which is not subject to change; that which is
invariable.
2. (Math.) A quantity that does
not change its value; -- used in countradistinction to
variable.
Absolute constant (Math.), 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.
Con"stant, n. 1.
(Astron.) 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.
2. (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.
Aberration constant, or Constant
of aberration (Astron.), 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. -- Constant of
integration (Math.), an undetermined constant
added to every result of integration. -- 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 (Astron.),
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. Young.
Con"stant, n. 1.
(Astron.) 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.
2. (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.
Aberration constant, or Constant
of aberration (Astron.), 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. -- Constant of
integration (Math.), an undetermined constant
added to every result of integration. -- 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 (Astron.),
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. Young.
