Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Constant |
ConstantAdjective1. Persistent in occurrence and unvarying in nature; "maintained a constant temperature"; "a constant beat"; "principles of unvarying validity"; "a steady breeze". 2. Continually recurring or continuing without interruption; "constant repetition of the exercise"; "constant chatter of monkeys". 3. Steadfast in purpose or devotion or affection; "a man constant in adherence to his ideals"; "a constant lover"; "constant as the northern star". 4. Uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing; "the ceaseless thunder of surf"; "in constant pain"; "night and day we live with the incessant noise of the city"; "the never-ending search for happiness"; "the perpetual struggle to maintain standards in a democracy"; "man's unceasing warfare with drought and isolation"; "unremitting demands of hunger". Noun1. A quantity that does not vary. 2. A number representing a quantity assumed to have a fixed value in a specified mathematical context; "the velocity of light is a constant". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
"Constant" is a name that signifies or is derived from: "to be constant", "steadfast". |
Date "constant" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1321. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Biology & Biotechnology | A species that is present in almost every sample(generally accepted as in more than 80 percent of a community). Source: European Union. (references) |
Building & Civil Engineering | A variable is a symbol which can assume any of a prescribed set of values; if the variable can assume only one value it is called a constant. Source: European Union. (references) |
Computing | A language object that takes only one specific value. Source: European Union. (references) |
| A)an explicit, as opposed to symbolic, value in a program instruction or statement; b)any item whose value is fixed throughout a program. Source: European Union. (references) | |
Statistics | A number that does not change in value in a given situation. Source: European Union. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
In mathematics and the mathematical sciences, a constant is a fixed, but possibly unspecified, value. This is in contrast to a variable, which is not fixed.
Constant number
The most widely mentioned sort of constant is a fixed, but possibly unspecified, number. Usually the term constant is used in connection with mathematical functions of one or more variable arguments. These arguments, or other variables, are often called x, y, or z, using lower-case letters from the end of the English alphabet. Constants are usually denoted by lower-case letters from the beginning of the English alphabet, such as a, b, and c. Of course, some constants have special symbols, because they are specified, such as 1 or &pi.
Physical constant
A special case of this may be found in physics, chemistry, and related fields, where certain features of the natural world that are described by numbers are found to have the same value at all times and places.
For example, in Albert Einstein's special theory of relativity, we have the formula
Here, the letter c stands for the speed of light in a vacuum, which is the same in all physical situations (to the best of current knowledge). In contrast, the letter m stands for the mass of an object, which could be anything, so it is a variable. E stands for the objects rest energy, another variable, and the formula defines a function that gives rest energy in terms of mass. (The variables are not taken from the end of the alphabet because physicists like to use initials as mnemonics for their variable names.)
- E = mc2.
Constant term
A constant term is a number that appear as an addend in a formula, such as
Here the constant c is the constant term of the function f. The value of c has not been specified in this formula, but it must be a specifice value for f to be a specific function.
- f(x) = sin x + c.
In a polynomial (or a generalisation of a polynomial, such as a Taylor expansion or Fourier expansion), the constant term is associated to the exponent zero. Note that the constant term may be zero, however. In a sense, any formula has a constant term, if you allow the constant term to be zero.
Constant function
A constant function is a function that only consists of a single constant term:
It assigns the same value c to each possible combination of arguments. The range of a constant function must be the set {c}.
- f(x,y,z) = c.
The empty function
Strictly speaking, the above comments are contradictory, in the case where the domain of the function is the empty set {}. There is only one function with that domain (given any codomain), the empty function, and any formula can be used to define the empty function, since the formula won't apply to anything and will therefore never be wrong. This includes a constant formula c; but the range of the empty function is not {c} but instead {}. Most authors will not care, when defining the term "constant function" precisely, whether or not the empty function qualifies, and will use whatever definition is most convenient. Sometimes, however, it is best not to consider the empty function to be constant, and a definition that makes reference to the range is preferable in those situations. (This is much along the same lines of not considering an empty topological space to be connected, or not considering the trivial group to be simple.)
Constants vs variables
A number that is constant in one place may be a variable in another. Consider the example above, with a function f defined by
Now consider a functional F, a function whose argument is itself another function, defined by
- f(x) = sin x + c.
Then for the function f given above, we have
- F(g) = g(π/2).
In the formula for f(x), we are fixing c and varying x, so c is a constant. But in the formula for F(f), we are varying both c and f, so c is a variable. Even this statements might be false in the presence of some larger context that gives yet another point of view.
- F(f) = c + 1.
Thus, there is no precise definition of "constant" in mathematics; only phrases such as "constant function" or "constant term of a polynomial" can be defined.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Constant."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Constant Anton Nieuwenhuis (born 1920) is one of the foremost innovators of Unitary Urbanism. Generally known simply as Constant, in 1948 he founded the Experimentele Groepe de Hollande with Corneille and Karel Appel. They then went on to link up with Christian Dotrement, Joseph Noiret, Belgium and Asger Jorn, Denmark to form CoBrA. Scorched Earth I (1951) is one of his noted works from this period.
Quote:
"Creation and revolutionary struggle have the same objective: the realisation of life."
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Constant Nieuwenhuis."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
In probability theory, a constant random variable is a discrete random variable that takes a constant value, regardless of the event that occurs. This is technically different from an almost surely constant random variable, which may take other values, but only on events with probability zero. Constant and almost surely constant random variables provide a way to deal with constant values in a probabilistic framework.
Let X: Ω → R be a random variable defined on a probability space (Ω, P). Then X is an almost surely constant random variable ifand is furthermore a constant random variable if
- Pr(X = c) = 1,
- X(ω) = c, ∀ω ∈ Ω.
Note that a constant random variable is almost surely constant, but not necessarily vice versa, since if X is almost surely constant then there may exist an event γ ∈ Ω such that X(γ) ≠ c (but then necessarily P(γ) = 0).
For practical purposes, the distinction between X being constant or almost surely constant is unimportant, since the probability mass function f(x) and cumulative distribution function F(x) of X do not depend on whether X is constant or 'merely' almost surely constant. In either case,
The function F(x) is a step function.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Constant random variable."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
A mathematical constant is a quantity whose value does not change; it is thus the opposite of a variable. Unlike physical constants, mathematical constants are defined independently of any physical measurement.
Mathematical constants are typically elements of the field of real numbers or complex numbers. Mathematical constants that one can talk about are definable numbers (and almost always also computable).
An alternate sorting may be found at Mathematical constant (sorted by continued fraction representation)
Symbol Value Name Field N First described # of known digits
π ≈ 3.14159 26535 89793 23846 26433 83279 50288 Pi, Archimedes' constant or Ludoph's number Gen T ? 206,158,430,000
e ≈ 2.71828 18284 59045 23536 02874 71352 66249 Napier's constant, base of Natural logarithm Gen T 12,884,901,000
√2 ≈ 1.41421 35623 73095 04880 16887 24209 69807 Pythagoras' constant, square root of two Gen I 137,438,953,444
γ ≈ 0.57721 56649 01532 86060 65120 90082 40243 Euler-Mascheroni constant Gen, NuT ? 108,000,000
φ ≈ 1.61803 39887 49894 84820 45868 34365 63811 Golden ratio Gen A 3,141,000,000
β* ≈ 0.70258 Embree-Trefethen constant NuT
δ ≈ 4.66920 16091 02990 67185 32038 20466 20161 Feigenbaum constant ChT
α ≈ 2.50290 78750 95892 82228 39028 73218 21578 Feigenbaum constant ChT
C2 ≈ 0.66016 18158 46869 57392 78121 10014 55577 Twin prime constant NuT 5,020
M1 ≈ 0.26149 72128 47642 78375 54268 38608 69585 Meissel-Mertens constant NuT 1866
18748,010
B2 ≈ 1.90216 05823 Brun's constant for twin prime NuT 1919 10
B4 ≈ 0.87058 83800 Brun's constant for prime quadruplets NuT
Λ > – 2.7 · 10-9 de Bruijn-Newman constant NuT 1950?
K ≈ 0.91596 55941 77219 01505 46035 14932 38411 Catalan's constant Com 201,000,000
K ≈ 0.76422 36535 89220 66 Landau-Ramanujan constant NuT I (?) 30,010
K ≈ 1.13198 824 Viswanath's constant 1 NuT 8
B´L ≈ 1.08366 Legendre's constant NuT
μ ≈ 1.45136 92348 83381 05028 39684 85892 027 Ramanujan-Soldner constant, Soldner's constant NuT 75,500
EB ≈ 1.60669 51524 15291 763 Erdös-Borwein constant NuT I
Note:
- The table is sorted pretty 'randomly'. See also the alternative sorting based on the continued fraction representations.
External links
- Steven Finch's page of mathematical constants: http://pauillac.inria.fr/algo/bsolve/constant/constant.html
- Steven Finch's alternative indexing: http://pauillac.inria.fr/algo/bsolve/constant/table.html
- Xavier Gourdon and Pascal Sebah's page of numbers, mathematical constants and algorithms: http://numbers.computation.free.fr/Constants/constants.html
- Simon Plouffe's inverter: http://pi.lacim.uqam.ca/eng/
- CECM's Inverse symbolic calculator (ISC) (tells you how a given number can be constructed from mathematical constants): http://www.cecm.sfu.ca/projects/ISC/
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Mathematical constant."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
In science, a physical constant is a physical quantity whose numerical value is fixed. It can be constrasted to a mathematical constant which is a fixed number that does not directly involve a physical measurement.
There are many such constants used in science, some of the most famous of which being: Planck's constant, the gravitational constant and Avogadro's constant (better known as Avogadro's number). Constants can take many forms; some, such as the Planck length represents a fundamental physical distance, others such as the speed of light signifies the maximun speed limit of the universe, yet others are dimensionless quantities such as the fine-structure constant which embodies the interaction between electrons and photons.
Below is a list of physical constants:
Quantity Symbol Value Ref.
speed of light in vacuum c 299 792 458 m·s-1 (defined) a
permeability of vacuum μ0 4π × 10-7 N A-2 (defined) a
12.566 370 614... × 10-7 N A-2 a
permittivity of vacuum ε0 = 1/(μ0c2) 8.854 187 817 ... × 10-12 F·m-1 a
characteristic impedance of vacuum Z0 = μ0c 376.730 313 461... Ω (defined) a
gravitational constant G 6.672 59(85) × 10-11 m3·kg-1·s-2 ?
Planck's constant h 6.626 068 76(52) × 10-34 J·s a
Dirac's constant h= h / (2π)1.054 571 596(82) × 10-34 J·s a
Planck mass mp = ( hc / G)1/22.1767(16) × 10-8 kg a
Planck length lp= ( hG / c3) 1/21.6160(12) × 10-35 m a
Planck time tp = ( hG / c5)1/25.3906(40) × 10-44 s a
elementary charge e 1.602 176 462(63) × 10-19 C a
electron rest mass me 9.109 381 88(72) × 10-31 kg a
proton rest mass mp 1.672 621 58(13) × 10-27 kg a
neutron rest mass mn 1.674 927 16(13) × 10-27 kg a
atomic mass constant, (unified atomic mass unit) mu = 1 u 1.660 538 73(13) × 10-27 kg a
Avogadro's number L, NA 6.022 141 99(47) × 1023 a
Boltzmann constant k 1.380 6503(24) × 10-23 J·K-1 a
Faraday constant F 9.648 534 15(39) × 104 C·mol-1 a
gas constant R 8.314 472(15) J·K-1·mol-1 a
zero of the Celsius scale 273.15 K (defined) ?
molar volume, ideal gas, p = 1 bar, θ = 00C 22.710 981(40) L·mol-1 a
standard atmosphere atm 101 325 Pa (defined) a
fine structure constant α = μ0e2c / (2h) 7.297 352 533(27) × 10-3 a
α-1 137.035 999 76(50) a
Bohr radius a0 5.291 772 083(19) × 10-11 m a
Hartree energy Eh 4.359 743 81(34) × 10-18 J a
Rydberg constant R∞ 1.097 373 156 8549(83) × 107 m-1 a
Bohr magneton μB 9.274 008 99(37) × 10-24 J·T-1 a
electron magnetic moment μe -9.284 763 62(37) × 10-24 J·T-1 a
Lande g-factor for free electron ge 2.002 319 304 386(20) ?
nuclear magneton μN 5.050 786 6(17) × 10-27 J·T-1 ?
proton magnetic moment μp 1.410 607 61(47) × 10-26 J·T-1 ?
proton magnetogyric ratio γp 2.675 221 28(81) × 108 s-1·T-1 ?
magnetic moment of protons in H20, μ'p μ'p / μB 1.520 993 129(17) × 10-3 ?
proton resonance frequency per field in H20 γ'p / (2π) 42.576 375 (13) M·Hz·T-1 ?
Stefan-Boltzmann constant σ 5.670 400(40) × 10-8 W·m-2·K-4 a
first radiation constant c1 3.741 774 9(22) × 10-16 W·m2 ?
second radiation constant c2 1.438 769 (12) × 10-2 m·K ?
standard acceleration of free fall gn 9.80665 m·s-2 (defined) ? Some "constants" are really artifacts of the unit system used, like mks or cgs. In natural units, some of these supposedly physical constants turn out to be mere conversion factors.
References
aPeter J. Mohr and Barry N. Taylor, "CODATA Recommended Values of the Fundamental Physical Constants: 1998," Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data, Vol. 28, No. 6, 1999 and Reviews of Modern Physics, Vol. 72, No. 2, 2000.[[1]
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Physical constant."
| The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted. | |||
| Entry | Source | Expression | Field |
| CON | English | Constant | Computing, Mathematics |
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |||
Synonyms: ConstantSynonyms: ceaseless (adj), changeless (adj), incessant (adj), invariant (adj), never-ending (adj), perpetual (adj), steady (adj), unceasing (adj), unremitting (adj), unvarying (adj), constant quantity (n). (additional references) |
| Antonym: inconstant (adj). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Continuity | Noun: continuity; consecution, consecutiveness; Adjective: succession, round, suite, progression, series, train chain; catenation, concatenation; scale; gradation, course; ceaselessness, constant flow, unbroken extent. |
Adjective: continuous, continued; consecutive; progressive, gradual; serial, successive; immediate, unbroken, entire; linear; in a line, in a row; Noun: uninterrupted, unintermitting; unremitting, unrelenting (perseverence) a; perennial, evergreen; constant. | |
Expansion | Big bang; Hubble constant. |
Frequency | Adjective: frequent, many times, not rare, thickcoming, incessant, perpetual, continual, steady, constant, thick; uniform; repeated; customary; (habit); regular (normal); according to rule; (conformable). |
Perseverance | Adjective: persevering, constant; steady, steadfast; undeviating, unwavering, unfaltering, unswerving, unflinching, unsleeping, unflagging, undrooping; steady as time; unrelenting, |
Probity | Constant, constant as the northern star; faithful, loyal, staunch; true, true blue, true to one's colors, true to the core, true as the needle to the pole; "marble-constant"; true-hearted, trusty, trustworthy; as good as one's word, to be depended on, incorruptible. |
Stability | Adjective: unchangeable, immutable; unaltered, unalterable; not to be changed, constant; permanent; invariable, undeviating; stable, durable; perennial; (diuturnal). |
Truth | Exact, accurate, definite, precise, well-defined, just, just so, so; strict, severe; close; (similar); literal; rigid, rigorous; scrupulous; (conscientious); religiously exact, punctual, mathematical, scientific; faithful, constant, unerring; curious, particular, nice, delicate, fine; clean-cut, clear-cut. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | Calculate the velocity, v, in relation to the trajectory, t, in which g, gravity, of course remains a constant. (Seinfeld; writing credit: Andreas Lenze; Bea Schmidt) You'll live in constant danger of betrayal (Catch-22; writing credit: Buck Henry) Your constant scheming gives me even more of a headache (Gladiator; writing credit: David Franzoni) Well, the first stewardess is at the controls, but she she's in constant touch with the tower (Airport 1975; writing credit: Don Ingalls) The equestrian club must be in constant pain (Is It College Yet?; writing credit: Glenn Eichler; Peggy Nicoll) | |
Lyrics | Constant pleasure (More Than A Woman; performing artist: Aaliyah) Is like living in a world of constant fear (Until You Come Back To Me; performing artist: Aretha Franklin) A constant friend to me (I'll Never Break Your Heart; performing artist: Backstreet Boys) Time is a real and constant motion always ("I Hope You Dance"; performing artist: Lee Ann Womack) She’s the constant wind that fills my sail, (Strength Of A Woman; performing artist: Shaggy) | |
Clever | Occasional, constant infrequent headaches. (references; author: unknown) Constant use will wear out anything...especially friends. (references; author: unknown) | |
Movie/TV Titles | Quick Constant and Solid Instant (1969) The Constant Husband (1955) Constant Woman (1933) The Constant Wife (1933) Constant Hot Water (1923) | |
Song Titles | Man of Constant Sorrow (performing artist: Tonic Sol-Fa) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
Books |
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Music |
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High Tech |
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Consumer Goods | |||
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | Schematic diagram of chromosomes 8, 2, 14, and 22 which are involved in the translocations (usually 8;14, less frequently 8;22 or 2;8) which occur in Burkitt's Lymphoma. The break points for these translocations are identified by the banding regions (q24, p13, q32 and q11). These break points on chromosomes 2, 14, and 22 correspond to chromosomal regions to which have been mapped the kappa, heavy chain and lambda constant region genes respectively. Credit: Unknown photographer/artist. |  | Amongst the Anopheles mosquitoes the venation of their wings remains constant, while the scale patterns undergo variation between Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4. Anopheles gambiae is the world's most important vector for malarial parasites. Credit: CDC. |
 | White Finger Disease, or Raynaud's Syndrome, is essentially a problem involving a lack of blood to the nerves, and in this case, was caused by the constant vibration of the hands and arms. Credit: CDC. |  | After making contact, the forward end of tape is moved ahead Note lantern and flashlight - these operations were conducted at night Relatively constant night temperatures minimized expansion of tape Fig. No. 12, Appendix No. 3, Report of Superintendent ... 1901, p. 258. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |
 | Making contact at rear end of tape Man standing is maintaining pre-set constant tension on line Man kneeling is reading tape Fig. No. 11, Appendix No. 3, Report of Superintendent ... 1901, p. 258. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |  | Trawl net being towed. Small diameter wire attached to net mensuration sensors and holds sensors at constant tension so as not to foul net. Credit: Paths Less Taken - NOAA at the Ends of the Earth. |
 | The old fish ladder and pond at Parker River required constant maintenance and did not provide reliable access for anadromous fish to the spawning grounds at Parker River. Credit: NOAA Restoration Center. |  | Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Fiddler crabs inhabit mudflats. They help provide nutrients and oxygen to the soil with their constant burrowing in the sediments. Credit: National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR). |
 | Figure 43. Nansen total immersion hydrometer, an instrument of variable weight and constant volume. The fact that the instrument is completely immersed during use explains the term "constant volume." Its principle was first put forth by Giuseppe Pisati in 1890 and adopted by Fridthof Nansen in 1900. In 1901 it was used by Jacob Schetelig, Nansen's assistant, from the MICHAEL SARS. Credit: Sailing for Science - the NOAA Fleet Then and Now. |  | André Marie Constant Duméril / Gravé par Ambroise Tardieu. Credit: National Library of Medicine. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
 |
| "_MOVEMENT:57" by Janus R. Sørensen Commentary: "Reality is constantly changing. Culture is always evolving. Information is always moving. Constant motion, even in that which seems static. _MOVEMENT:57." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. |
| Play | Caption | Play | Caption |
 | Electric and lap steel guitar techniques featuring muted notes and glissandi with constant percussion pattern. | | Constant repetitive melody and bass very Michael Post in style. |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Author | Quotation |
Anne Sophie Swetchine | Our vanity is the constant enemy of our dignity. |
Benjamin Disraeli | Change is inevitable. Change is constant. |
| In a progressive country change is constant; . . . change . . . Is inevitable. | |
Benjamin Franklin | Constant complaint is the poorest sort of pay for all the comforts we enjoy. |
Confucius | They must change who would be constant in happiness and wisdom. |
Elbert Hubbard | Constant effort and frequent mistakes are the stepping stones to genius. |
Joseph Joubert | Who ever has no fixed opinions has no constant feelings. |
Seneca | Constant exposure to dangers will breed contempt for them. |
Socrates | Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Author | Date | Quotation |
John Locke | 1690 | Things of this world are in so constant a flux, that nothing remains long in the same state. (Second Treatise of Government) |
Communist Manifesto | 1848 | The bourgeoisie finds itself involved in a constant battle. (reference) |
Treaty of Versailles | 1919 | The nationals of the Allied and Associated Powers shall enjoy in German territory a constant protection for their persons and for their property, rights and interests, and shall have free access to the courts of law. (reference) |
Winston S. Churchill | 1946 | Above all, we welcome constant, frequent and growing contacts between the Russian people and our own people on both sides of the Atlantic. ("Iron Curtain" Speech) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Title | Author | Quote |
Emma | Austen, Jane | Her aunt is a good creature, but, as a constant companion, must be very tiresome |
Sylvie and Bruno Concluded | Carroll, Lewis | But the moving body, ever tending to fall, needs constant support, if it is to move in a true horizontal line |
Scarlet Letter | Hawthorne, Nathaniel | He thus typified the constant introspection wherewith he tortured, but could not purify, himself |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | (r)He abounded in pleasantries, oftener grotesque than witty , says Benjamin Constant. |
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man | Joyce, James | A constant sense of this had remained with him up to the last year of his school life |
Walden | Thoreau, Henry David | But the dining out, being, as I have stated, a constant element, does not in the least affect a comparative statement like this |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | The pressure is constant and continuous. (references) | |
Meningitis and blood poisoning pose a constant threat. (references) | ||
In these cases, the incontinence can appear as a constant dribbling of urine. (references) | ||
Business | New direct dedicated lines show also constant rates of increase. (references) | |
Already, silt deposition in Chinese ports requires constant dredging. (references) | ||
All calculations are based on FOB - US$ currency and constant values. (references) | ||
Civil Liberties | Morocco | The Government bars the Islamic JCO as a political party and subjects prominent members to constant surveillance and at times prevented them from obtaining passports. (references) |
Ethiopia | Despite the constant threat of legal action, the private press remained active and continued to publish articles critical of the Government and to report on human rights abuses. (references) | |
Economic History | Denmark | Denmark's transport system is in a state of constant transition. (references) |
Human Rights | Mongolia | Although the number of inmates remained fairly constant, the seriousness of crimes allegedly committed by those detained increased. (references) |
Guatemala | The Director of Personnel attributes the problem to budget cuts and the constant turnover in PNC leadership that affects the personnel system. (references) | |
Honduras | A number of farm cooperatives experience constant threats of dislocation from local police and military authorities who support local landowners. (references) | |
Indigenous People | Bolivia | However, the issue of land, specifically the Agrarian Reform Law, has been a constant source of complaints and protests by indigenous people. (references) |
Indonesia | Papuans complain of racism, religious bias, paternalism, and condescension as constant impediments to better relations with non-Papuans, including members of the Government, the military, and the non-Papuan business community. (references) | |
Minorities | Hungary | In view of the higher birth rate among Roma compared with the general decline in the majority population, observers believe that this percentage is likely to remain constant or grow, which causes concern among a substantial portion of the majority population. (references) |
Political Economy | Suriname | Over the past few years, the party's influence within the military had declined steadily; however, during the year it remained constant. (references) |
JAMAICA | About 65 percent of Jamaica's work force is employed in the services sector, contributing about 60 percent of GDP in constant 1986 dollars. (references) | |
Switzerland | These instruments allow unusually intense popular involvement in the legislative process and keep the federal government under constant scrutiny. (references) | |
Political Rights | Cote d'Ivoire | Emile Constant Bombet, PDCI candidate and former Minister of State for Interior and Decentralization, was disqualified because he faced outstanding charges of abuse of office from when he was Minister. (references) |
Venezuela | However, as the date approached, it became apparent that the CNE had failed to organize the elections adequately, primarily due to constant changes to the voter database which both NGO's and political opponents of President Chavez alleged offered electoral advantage to Chavez's supporters. (references) | |
Belarus | There were two main groups of domestic election observers: An independent group from NGO's working under the umbrella title of "Civic Initiative--Independent Observation," that included many of the country's most prominent human rights NGO's; and a proregime group of domestic observers led by the Belarusian Patriotic Youth Union (BPSM). In the months leading up to the election, the independent domestic observation effort was under constant attack, both physically by unknown assailants believed to be connected to the police, and in the media. (references) | |
Trade | Ecuador | This process should take two working days, however delays have been experienced due to constant political changes in the customs organization. (references) |
Croatia | Although default ratios for household loans, just over 1 percent in 1997, have increased, this is the only loan category recording constant growth. (references) | |
Croatia | Throughout 1999, the increase in lending to the Government offset the decrease in lending to enterprises; household lending recorded much slower growth, although constant, compared to 1997 and 1998. (references) | |
Travel | Singapore | Located a few degrees from the Equator, Singapore has a constant tropical climate year-round. (references) |
Ukraine | Long-term visitors may wish to consider bringing a distiller - not a filter - for a constant supply of potable water. (references) | |
Ecuador | The Ecuadorian Government has increased police patrols in tourist areas, but travelers in resort areas along the coast and in Quito and Guayaquil should remain alert to their surroundings and maintain constant control of personal belongings. (references) | |
Worker Rights | Congo | Inflation and the constant depreciation of the Congolese franc eliminated salary increases in the public sector. (references) |
Japan | Employers often isolated the women, subjected them to constant surveillance, and used violence to punish them for disobedience. (references) | |
Mongolia | Union officials estimate that union membership remained constant at approximately 400,000, which represents less than half of the workforce. (references) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Phrase(s) |
Judith Miller | In constant fear. Because you know if you know that if you even criticize him at all, that your wife is likely to be raped, your children will be imprisoned. |
Lynne Cheney | Well, I understand that, too. You know, I watch my own daughter who has three children and a demanding job. There's a constant pull and tug. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Speaker | Term | Phrase(s) |
George Washington | 1789-1797 | Besides this, such repeated changes take place, that all arrangement is set at nought, and the constant fluctuation of things, deranges every plan, as fast as adopted. |
James Monroe | 1817-1825 | The Board of Engineers and the Topographical Corps have been in constant and active service in surveying the coast and projecting the works necessary for its defense. |
Andrew Jackson | 1829-1837 | All must admit that there is nothing so worthy of the constant solicitude of this Government as the harmony and union of the people. |
James Buchanan | 1857-1861 | Besides, the Government, ever since its origin, has been in the constant practice of constructing military roads. |
Grover Cleveland | 1885-1889; 1893-1897 | This is the bane of republican institutions and the constant peril of our government by the people. |
Calvin Coolidge | 1923-1929 | We must realize that human nature is about the most constant thing in the universe and that the essentials of human relationship do not change. |
Herbert C. Hoover | 1929-1933 | But all this majestic advance should not obscure the constant dangers from which self-government must be safeguarded. |
John F. Kennedy | 1961-1963 | Nor can their children or grandchildren always sacrifice their own health budgets to meet this constant drain. |
Gerald Ford | 1974-1977 | In past years, as a result of decisions by the United States, our strategic forces leveled off, yet the Soviet Union continued a steady, constant buildup of its own forces, committing a high percentage of its national economic effort to defense. |
Ronald Reagan | 1981-1989 | Tax policy, regulatory practices, and government programs all need constant reevaluation in terms of our competitiveness. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| "Constant" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 97.89% of the time. "Constant" is used about 4,540 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Adjective (general or positive) | 97.89% | 4,444 | 2,207 |
| Noun (singular) | 2.11% | 96 | 33,456 |
| Total | 100.00% | 4,540 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| The following table summarizes the usage of "constant" based on a population census conducted in the United States. Ranks and frequencies are based on all names reported and classified. |
| Name | Usage/Gender | Usage per 100 million Persons | Rank in USA |
| Constant | Last name | 2,000 | 6,501 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits. | |||
| "Constant" is a name that signifies or is derived from: "to be constant", "steadfast". | |||
| The following table summarizes names derived from the word "constant". | |||
| Name | Gender | Language | Meaning |
| Kostandin | Male | Albanian | To be constant |
| Constantina | Male | Ancient Roman | To be constant |
| Konstantin | Male | Bulgarian | To be constant |
| Constant | Male | English | To be constant |
| Constant | Male | French | To be constant |
| Constantin | Male | French | To be constant |
| Konstantin | Male | German | To be constant |
| Konstantinos | Male | Greek | To be constant |
| Constantine | Male | History | To be constant |
| Konstantin | Male | Hungarian | To be constant |
| Constantia | Male | Late Roman | To be constant |
| Konstantyn | Male | Polish | To be constant |
| Constantin | Male | Romanian | To be constant |
| Costel | Male | Romanian | To be constant |
| Costica | Male | Romanian | To be constant |
| Konstantin | Male | Russian | To be constant |
| Konstantin | Male | Scandinavian | To be constant |
| Konstantin | Male | Serbian | To be constant |
| Cystenian | Male | Welsh | To be constant |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references.
| |||
| The following table summarizes names related to "Constant." | |||
| Name | Gender | Language | Related Name |
| Constant | Male | English | N/A |
| Constant | Male | French | N/A |
| Constantia | Female | Late Roman | Constant |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
Expressions using "constant": Aberration constant ♦ Absolute constant ♦ absorption constant ♦ address constant ♦ arbitrary constant ♦ arithmetic constant ♦ arithmetical constant ♦ be constant ♦ be exposed to a constant stream ♦ Boltzmann constant ♦ Boltzmann's constant ♦ characteristic constant ♦ constant angular velocity ♦ constant applicative form ♦ constant background music ♦ constant circulating oiling ♦ constant flow ♦ constant folding ♦ constant growth ♦ constant Lambert ♦ constant level balloon ♦ constant level chart ♦ constant linear velocity ♦ constant mapping ♦ Constant of aberration ♦ constant of gravitation ♦ Constant of integration ♦ constant of proportionality ♦ constant of the cone ♦ constant price ♦ constant quantity ♦ constant stream ♦ constant sunlight ratio orbit ♦ constant viscosity rubber ♦ constant words ♦ cosmological constant ♦ crystallographic lattice constant ♦ diffusion constant ♦ dissociation constant ♦ equilibrium constant ♦ Faraday's constant ♦ figurative constant ♦ gas constant ♦ GDP at constant prices ♦ Gravitation constant ♦ gravitational constant ♦ gross calorific value at constant volume ♦ gross domestic product at constant prices ♦ have in constant wear ♦ Hubble constant ♦ Hubble's constant ♦ Hysteretic constant ♦ Immunoglobulin Constant Region ♦ law of constant angular momentum ♦ law of constant proportion ♦ Leonard Constant Lambert ♦ mathematical constant ♦ orbit giving constant sunlight ratio ♦ Planck's constant ♦ remain constant ♦ Rydberg constant ♦ solar constant ♦ time constant ♦ universal gas constant ♦ universal gravitational constant. Additional references. | |
| Hyphenated Usage | |
Beginning with "constant": constant-current, constant-density, constant-frequency, constant-gain, constant-growth, constant-k, constant-level, constant-speed, constant-speed propeller, constant-speed unit, constant-until, constant-velocity, constant-width font. | |
Ending with "constant": non-constant. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day | Expression | Frequency per Day |
man of constant sorrow | 182 | plank constant | 18 |
constant control module relay | 69 | constant equilibrium | 17 |
constant contact | 67 | constant voltage transformer | 16 |
dielectric constant | 59 | constant gas universal |