Now rare or Obs. [a. F. commensuration (14th c. Oresme), ad. L. commensūrātiōn-em (Boeth.), f. com- together + mensūrātio measurement.]
1. The measuring of things against or in comparison with each other.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 299. By applyenge parte to parte and membre to membre, by commensuracion, as Helisey dyd reyse to lyfe the wydowes sone.
1692. South, Serm. (1697), I. 21. God’s Omnipresence … without any commensuration of parts to any [space], or circumscription within any.
1701. Grew, Cosm. Sacr., I. iii. (R.). A strait and a curve line may perhaps be brought by immediate commensuration, nearer to equality than any given difference; but the equality can never be brought to a point.
1824–9. Landor, Imag. Conv., Wks. 1846, I. 487. The minds of few can take in the whole of a great author, and fewer can draw him close enough to another for just commensuration.
† 2. The action of measuring; measurement. Obs.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., 360. Such commensurations as are made in the wanderynge turnynges of such vyages.
1650. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 288. The … more Western term of Longitude, from whence the moderns begin their commensuration. Ibid. (1682), Chr. Morals (1756), 38. Some cubits above the common commensuration.
† b. As a quality: Measurement, measure, magnitude, size. Obs.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., 323. The largenes of heauen and commensuration of the earth.
1659. T. Willsford, Archit., 6. The true commensuration taken in Feet.
3. The action of proportioning, or fact of being proportioned; proportion, commensurateness.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 764. There must be a commensuration or proportion between the Body moved, and the force.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 250. Judging of Commensuration or Incommensuration of a Body.
1653. Wilkins, Gift of Prayer, ii. (R.). He is pleased to esteem them [our services] by their commensuration to us, if in respect of our abilities they are the best.
1781. W. Jones, Phys. Disquis., in G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., IV. xlii. 133. Where we look for commensuration, we find variety and infinity.
