C — Consonantness to Constellate (Part 5 of 6)

Constabulatory
(Con*stab"u*la*to*ry) n. A constabulary. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.

Constancy
(Con"stan*cy) n. [L. constantia: cf. F. constance. See Constant.]

1. The state or quality of being constant or steadfast; freedom from change; stability; fixedness; immutability; as, the constancy of God in his nature and attributes.

2. Fixedness or firmness of mind; persevering resolution; especially, firmness of mind under sufferings, steadiness in attachments, or perseverance in enterprise; stability; fidelity.

A fellow of plain uncoined constancy.
Shak.

Constancy and contempt of danger.
Prescott.

Syn. — Fixedness; stability; firmness; steadiness; permanence; steadfastness; resolution. See Firmness.

Constant
(Con"stant) a. [L. onstans, -antis, p. pr. of constare to stand firm, to be consistent; con- + stare to stand: cf. F. constant. See Stand and cf. Cost, v. t.]

1. Firm; solid; fixed; immovable; — opposed to fluid. [Obs.]

If . . . you mix them, you may turn these two fluid liquors into a constant body.
Boyle.

2. Not liable, or given, to change; permanent; regular; continuous; continually recurring; steadfast; faithful; not fickle.

Both loving one fair maid, they yet remained constant friends.
Sir P. Sidney.

I am constant to my purposes.
Shak.

His gifts, his constant courtship, nothing gained.
Dryden.

Onward the constant current sweeps.
Longfellow.

3. (Math. & Physics) Remaining unchanged or invariable, as a quantity, force, law, etc. Contrasted with variable.

4. Consistent; logical. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn. — Fixed; steadfast; unchanging; permanent; unalterable; immutable; invariable; perpetual; continual; resolute; firm; unshaken; determined. — Constant, Continual, Perpetual. These words are sometimes used in an absolute and sometimes in a qualified sense. Constant denotes, in its absolute sense, unchangeably fixed; as, a constant mind or purpose. In its qualified sense, it marks something as a "standing" fact or occurence; as, liable to constant interruptions; constantly called for. Continual, in its absolute sense, coincides with continuous. See Continuous. In its qualified sense, it describes a thing as occuring in steady and rapid succession; as, a round of continual calls; continually changing. Perpetual denotes, in its absolute sense, what literally never ceases or comes to an end; as, perpetual motion. In its qualified sense, it is used hyperbolically, and denotes that which rarely ceases; as, perpetual disturbance; perpetual noise; perpetual intermeddling.

Constant
(Con"stant), n.

1. That which is not subject to change; that which is invariable.

2. (Math.) A quantity that does not change its value; — used in countradistinction to variable.