constant
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: enpr: kŏn'stənt
ipa: /ˈkɒnstənt/
ipa: /ˈkɑnstənt/
Forms: form: more constant
form: most constant
Etymology: From Middle English constant, from Old French constant, from Latin constantem, accusative of constans, from cōnstāre (“to stand firm”). Displaced native Old English singal.
Senses: glosses: Unchanged through time or space; permanent.
examples: text: The constant pinging of electronic devices is driving many people to the end of their tether. Electronic devices not only overload the senses and invade leisure time. They feed on themselves: the more people tweet the more they are rewarded with followers and retweets.
ref: 2013 November 16, Schumpeter, “The mindfulness business”, in The Economist, volume 409, number 8862:
synonyms: word: amaranthine
word: ceaseless
word: constant
word: continual
word: continuate
word: continuous
word: dreich
raw_tags: of rain
word: endless
word: eternal
word: everlasting
word: extended
word: incessant
word: infinite
word: never-ending
word: nonstop
word: ongoing
word: perpetual
word: persistent
word: relentless
word: steady
word: still
word: termless
word: unbroken
word: unceasing
word: unending
word: unintermitted
word: uninterrupted
word: unremitting
word: lasting
word: permanent
word: uniform
glosses: Consistently recurring over time; persistent.
examples: text: Both loving one fair maid, they yet remained constant friends.
ref: c. 1580 (date written), Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “[The Second Booke] Chapter 3”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC, folio 162, recto:
english: The New Arcadia
translation: The New Arcadia
text: I am constant to my purposes.
ref: c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
text: His gifts, his constant courtship, nothing gained.
ref: 1700, [John] Dryden, “Theodore and Honoria, from Boccace”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
glosses: Steady in purpose, action, feeling, etc.
examples: text: If […] you mix them, you may turn these two fluid liquors into a constant body.
ref: 1659 December 30 (date written), Robert Boyle, New Experiments Physico-Mechanicall, Touching the Spring of the Air, and Its Effects, (Made, for the Most Part, in a New Pneumatical Engine) […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] H[enry] Hall, printer to the University, for Tho[mas] Robinson, published 1660, →OCLC:
glosses: Firm; solid; not fluid.
examples: text: I am no more mad than you are: make the trial of it with any constant question.
ref: c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
glosses: Consistent; logical.
examples: text: constant time   constant space
topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
qualifier: complexity theory
glosses: Bounded above by a constant.
Synonyms: sense: unchanged through time or space
word: nonchanging
word: unaltering
word: unvarying
word: changeless
Derived terms: constantive
constant morphism
constantness
constant of integration
constant speed drive
constant-speed propeller
constant time
constant velocity
constant-velocity
constant-wear garment
multiconstant
nonconstant
thermoconstant
unconstant
uniconstant