equant
/ˈiːkwənt
/noun Astronomy, historical
(In the Ptolemaic system) an imaginary circle introduced with the purpose of reconciling the planetary movements with the hypothesis of uniform circular motion.When the intricacies of epicycles, deferents and equants were explained to him Alfonso ‘the Wise’ is said to have remarked that if the Almighty had consulted him on the matter, he would have recommended something a little simpler…...
- If you had asked Aristotle or Ptolemy to explain how planets move, you would have got a lecture on epicycles and equants.
- Gingerich noted ‘the majority of sixteenth-century astronomers thought eliminating the equant was Copernicus' big achievement.’
adjective Geology
(Of a crystal or particle) having its different diameters approximately equal, so as to be roughly cubic or spherical in shape.It typically occurs as transparent flattened crystals, as small equant crystals, as intergrown masses of small lustrous crystals, and occasionally as stout or elongated twinned crystals....
- A few outstanding composite specimens were recovered, with crude dendritic copper intergrown with one or two large, single, equant crystals.
- Doubly terminated, transparent, colorless equant crystals of classic Herkimer ‘diamond’ habit are locally common.
Origin
Mid 16th century: from Latin aequant- 'making equal', from the verb aequare.