from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Equate \E*quate"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Equated}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Equating}.] [L. aequatus, p. p. of aequare to make level
or equal, fr. aequus level, equal. See {Equal}.]
To make equal; to reduce to an average; to make such an
allowance or correction in as will reduce to a common
standard of comparison; to reduce to mean time or motion; as,
to equate payments; to equate lines of railroad for grades or
curves; equated distances.
[1913 Webster]
Palgrave gives both scrolle and scrowe and equates both
to F[rench] rolle. --Skeat
(Etymol. Dict.
).
[1913 Webster]
{Equating for grades} (Railroad Engin.), adding to the
measured distance one mile for each twenty feet of ascent.
{Equating for curves}, adding half a mile for each 360
degrees of curvature.
[1913 Webster]