CONSTANTS

Noun

constants

plural of constant

Source: Wiktionary


CONSTANT

Con"stant, a. Etym: [L. onstans, -antis, p.pr. of constare to stand firm, to be consistent; con- + stare to stand: cf.F. constant. See Stand and f. 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 ourtship, nothing gained. Dryden. Onward the constant current sweeps. Longfellow.

3. (Math. & Physics)

Definition: Remaining unchanged or invariable, as a quantity, forc, law, etc.

4. Consistent; logical. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn.

– Fixed; steadfast; unchanging; permanent; unalterable; immutable; 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.)

Definition: A quantity that does not change its value; -- used in countradistinction variable. Absolute costant (Math.), one whose value is absolutely the same under all cirumstanes, 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

29 May 2025

CRITICAL

(adjective) characterized by careful evaluation and judgment; “a critical reading”; “a critical dissertation”; “a critical analysis of Melville’s writings”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the most massive cup of coffee contained 22,739.14 liters and was created by Alcaldía Municipal de Chinchiná (Colombia) at Parque de Bolívar, Chinchiná, Caldas, Colombia, on 15 June 2019. Fifty people worked for more than a month to build this giant cup. The drink prepared was Arabic coffee.

coffee icon