1. The quality of being unequal; difference, or want of equality, in
any respect; lack of uniformity; disproportion; unevenness; disparity;
diversity; as, an inequality in size, stature, numbers, power,
distances, motions, rank, property, etc.
There is so great an inequality in the length of our legs and arms
as makes it impossible for us to walk on all four.
Ray.
Notwithstanding which inequality of number, it was resolved in a
council of war to fight the Dutch fleet.
Ludlow.
Sympathy is rarely strong where there is a great inequality of
condition.
Macaulay.
2. Unevenness; want of levelness; the alternate rising and falling of a
surface; as, the inequalities of the surface of the earth, or of a
marble slab, etc.
The country is cut into so many hills and inequalities as renders
it defensible.
Addison.
3. Variableness; changeableness; inconstancy; lack of smoothness or
equability; deviation; unsteadiness, as of the weather, feelings, etc.
Inequality of air is ever an enemy to health.
Bacon.
4. Disproportion to any office or purpose; inadequacy; competency; as,
the inequality of terrestrial things to the wants of a rational soul.
South.
5. (Alg.) An expression consisting of two unequal quantities, with the
sign of inequality (> or <) between them; as, the inequality 2 < 3, or
4 > 1.
6. (Astron.) An irregularity, or a deviation, in the motion of a planet
or satellite from its uniform mean motion; the amount of such
deviation.
In`e*qua"tion (?), n. (Math.) An inequality.
In*e`qui*dis"tant (?), a. Not equally distant; not equidistant.
In*e`qui*lat"er*al (?), a. 1. Having unequal sides; unsymmetrical;
unequal- sided.
2. (Zoöl.) Having the two ends unequal, as in the clam, quahaug, and
most lamellibranch shells.
In*e`qui*lo"bate (?), a. [Pref. in- not + equi- + lobate.] (Biol.)
Unequally lobed; cut into lobes of different shapes or sizes.
In*eq"ui*ta*ble (?), a. Not equitable; not just. Burke.
In*eq"ui*tate (?), v. t. [L. inequitatus, p. p. inequitare to ride
over. See 1st In-, and Equitant.] To ride over or through. [Obs.] Dr.
H. More.
In*eq"ui*ty (?), n. Want of equity; injustice; wrong. "Some form of
inequity." H. Spencer.
{ In*e"qui*valve (?), In*e`qui*val"vu*lar (?), } a. (Zoöl.) Having
unequal valves, as the shell of an oyster.
In`e*rad"i*ca*ble (?), a. Incapable of being eradicated or rooted out.
The bad seed thus sown was ineradicable.
Ld. Lytton.
In`e*rad"i*ca*bly, adv. So as not to be eradicable.
{ In`er*get"ic (?), In`er*get"ic*al (?), } a. [Pref. in- not +
energetic, - ical.] Having no energy; sluggish. [R.] Boyle.