Parallel | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Pār'al-lel, a.

adjective

a. [Gr. παράλληλος, from παρά, beside, and ἀλλήλων, of one another, Lat. parallelus, Fr. parallele, Pr. paralel, It. parallelo, paralello, Sp. paralelo.]

Sense 1. (Geom.) Extended in the same direction, and in all parts equally distant; as, parallel lines. Parallel Lines.

Sense 2. Having the same direction or tendency; running in accordance with something.

When honor runs parallel with the laws of God and our country, it can not be too much cherished. Addison.

Sense 3. Continuing a resemblance through many particulars; applicable in all essential parts; like; similar; as, a parallel case; a parallel passage.

Parallel motion. (a.) (Steam-eng.) A contrivance for connecting the piston and pump-rods with the working beam, so as to convert the circular motion of the beam into the rectilinear motion of the rods, and preserve the parallelism of the rods with the axes of their cylinders. (b.) (Mus.) The ascending or descending of two or more parts in such a manner as to have constantly the same interval between the corresponding notes in the several parts. — Parallel rod (Locomotive Engines), a rod that connects the crank-pins of driving-wheels; — called also coupling rod, in distinction from connecting rod, which is the rod that connects the cross-head with the crank-pin. [See Illust. of Locomotive.] — Parallel ruler, a ruler or instrument for drawing parallel lines, so constructed as to have its successive positions parallel to each other, or consisting of two movable parts, the opposite edges of which are always parallel. — Parallel sailing, sailing on a parallel of latitude. — Parallel sphere (Astron. & Geog.), that position of the sphere in which the circles of daily motion are parallel to the horizon, as to an observer at either pole.

Pār'al-lel, n.

noun

n. 1. A line which, throughout its whole extent, is equidistant from another line. Who made the spider parallels design, Sure as De Moivre, without rule or line? Pope.

One of the circles upon a globe, or the sphere, parallel to the equator, and used for marking the latitude.
Direction conformable to that of another line. Lines that from their parallel decline. Garth.
Conformity continued through many particulars or in all essential points; resemblance; likeness.

'Twixt earthly females and the moon All parallels exactly run. Swift.

A comparison made; elaborate tracing out of similarity; as, to draw a parallel between two characters; Johnson's parallel between Dryden and Pope.
Any thing equal to, or resembling, another in all essential particulars; counterpart.

None but thyself can be thy parallel. Pope.

(Mil.) A wide trench, affording besieging troops a free covered communication between their various batteries and approaches, and a secure position for the guards of the trenches. Scott.
(Print.) A sign of reference [thus, ‖], used to direct attention to notes in the margin or at the foot of a page.

Parallel of altitude (Astron.), one of the small circles of the sphere parallel to the horizon; an almucantar.—Parallel of declination, one of the small circles of the sphere parallel to the equator.—Parallel of latitude. (a.) (Geog.) One of the small circles of the sphere, or upon a globe, parallel to the equator. (b.) (Astron.) One of the small circles of the sphere parallel to the ecliptic. Brandé.

A parallel ruler consisting of two long parallel bars joined by two diagonal hinged arms. — Parallel Ruler.

Pär'al-lel, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. PARALLELLED; p. pr. & vb. n. PARALLELING.] 1. To place so as to keep the same direction as, and be at an equal distance from, something else; to cause to be parallel. 2. To level; to equalize. [Rare.] Shak. 3. To correspond to. “He parallels Nessus.” Shak. 4. To be equal to; to resemble in all essential points. 5. To compare. [Rare.] Locke.