Chapter Prophet to Proposal of P by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

(b) The rule of three, in arithmetic, in which the three given terms, together with the one sought, are proportional.

Continued proportion, Inverse proportion, etc. See under Continued, Inverse, etc. — Harmonical, or Musical, proportion, a relation of three or four quantities, such that the first is to the last as the difference between the first two is to the difference between the last two; thus, 2, 3, 6, are in harmonical proportion; for 2 is to 6 as 1 to 3. Thus, 24, 16, 12, 9, are harmonical, for 24:9::8:3. — In proportion, according as; to the degree that. "In proportion as they are metaphysically true, they are morally and politically false." Burke.

Proportion
(Pro*por"tion), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proportioned ; p. pr. & vb. n. Proportioning.] [Cf. F. proportionner. Cf. Proportionate, v.]

1. To adjust in a suitable proportion, as one thing or one part to another; as, to proportion the size of a building to its height; to proportion our expenditures to our income.

In the loss of an object we do not proportion our grief to the real value . . . but to the value our fancies set upon it.

Addison.

2. To form with symmetry or suitableness, as the parts of the body.

Nature had proportioned her without any fault.

Sir P. Sidney.

3. To divide into equal or just shares; to apportion.

Proportionable
(Pro*por"tion*a*ble) a. Capable of being proportioned, or made proportional; also, proportional; proportionate. — Pro*por"tion*a*ble*ness, n.

But eloquence may exist without a proportionable degree of wisdom.

Burke.

Proportionable, which is no longer much favored, was of our [i. e., English writers'] own coining.

Fitzed. Hall.

Proportionably
(Pro*por"tion*a*bly), adv. Proportionally. Locke.

Proportional
(Pro*por"tion*al) a. [L. proportionalis: cf. F. proportionnel.]

1. Having a due proportion, or comparative relation; being in suitable proportion or degree; as, the parts of an edifice are proportional. Milton.

2. Relating to, or securing, proportion. Hutton.

3. (Math.) Constituting a proportion; having the same, or a constant, ratio; as, proportional quantities; momentum is proportional to quantity of matter.

Proportional logarithms, logistic logarithms. See under Logistic. — Proportional scale, a scale on which are marked parts proportional to the logarithms of the natural numbers; a logarithmic scale. — Proportionalscales, compasses, dividers, etc. (Draughting), instruments used in making copies of drawings, or drawings of objects, on an enlarged or reduced scale.

Proportional
(Pro*por"tion*al), n.

1. (Math.) Any number or quantity in a proportion; as, a mean proportional.

2. (Chem.) The combining weight or equivalent of an element. [Obs.]

Proportionality
(Pro*por`tion*al"i*ty) n. [Cf. F. proportionnalité.] The state of being in proportion. Coleridge.