Lines that from their parallel decline.
Garth.
3. Conformity continued through many particulars or in all essential
points; resemblance; similarity.
Twixt earthly females and the moon All parallels exactly run.
Swift.
4. A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity; as, Johnson's
parallel between Dryden and Pope.
5. Anything equal to, or resembling, another in all essential
particulars; a counterpart.
None but thyself can be thy parallel.
Pope.
6. (Geog.) One of the imaginary circles on the surface of the earth,
parallel to the equator, marking the latitude; also, the corresponding
line on a globe or map.
7. (Mil.) One of a series of long trenches constructed before a
besieged fortress, by the besieging force, as a cover for troops
supporting the attacking batteries. They are roughly parallel to the
line of outer defenses of the fortress.
8. (Print.) A character consisting of two parallel vertical lines
(thus, ||) used in the text to direct attention to a similarly marked
note in the margin or at the foot of a page.
Limiting parallels. See under Limit, v. t. -- Parallel of altitude
(Astron.), one of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the
horizon; an almucantar. -- Parallel of declination (Astron.), one of
the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the equator. -- Parallel
of latitude. (a) (Geog.) See def. 6. above. (b) (Astron.) One of the
small circles of the sphere, parallel to the ecliptic.
Par"al*lel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paralleled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Paralleling (?).] 1. To place or set so as to be parallel; to place so
as to be parallel to, or to conform in direction with, something else.
The needle . . . doth parallel and place itself upon the true
meridian.
Sir T. Browne.
2. Fig.: To make to conform to something else in character, motive,
aim, or the like.
His life is paralleled Even with the stroke and line of his great
justice.
Shak.