horizon, as to an observer at either pole. — Parallel vise, a vise having jaws so guided as to remain
parallel in all positions.
Parallel
(Par"al*lel) n.
1. A line which, throughout its whole extent, is equidistant from another line; a parallel line, a parallel
plane, etc.
Who made the spider parallels design,
Sure as De Moivre, without rule or line ?
Pope. 2. Direction conformable to that of another line,
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.
Parallel
(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. 3. To equal; to match; to correspond to. Shak.
4. To produce or adduce as a parallel. [R.] Locke.
My young remembrance can not parallel
A fellow to it.
Shak. Parallel
(Par"al*lel), v. i. To be parallel; to correspond; to be like. [Obs.] Bacon.
