Dictionary

constancy en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈkɑnstənsi/ (General-American)
• /ˈkɒnstənsi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin cōnstantia.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The quality of being constant; steadiness or faithfulness in action, affections, purpose, etc.
   • Constancy of character is what is chiefly valued and sought for by naturalists. 1871, Charles Darwin, “On the Races of Man”, in The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. […], volume I, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, Part I (On the Descent of Man), page 214:
   • The overall retention rate of 68 per cent indicates a robust constancy of the linguistic features investigated. 2014, James Lambert, “Diachronic stability in Indian English lexis”, in World Englishes, page 124:
   • And, I do not know that I should be fond of preaching often; now and then, perhaps, once or twice in the spring, after being anxiously expected for half a dozen Sundays together; but not for a constancy; it would not do for a constancy. 1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter III, in Mansfield Park: […], volume III, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 68:
   • Punctuality is a species of Constancy, a very unfashionable quality in a Lady. 1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, IV.iii:
   • A little Water cleares vs of this deed. How eaſie is it then? your Conſtancie Hath left you vnattended. c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 137, column 1:
2. (countable, usually) An unchanging quality or characteristic of a person or thing.
   • […] yonger ſpirits, […] whoſe conſtancies Expire before their faſhions: […] c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 232, column 2:

Forms

Deriveds

inconstancy · nonconstancy · color constancy

Relateds

constant · constantly

Translations (39)

ru постоя́нство (quality of being constant) · sa धृति (quality of being constant) · el σταθερότητα (quality of being constant) · ga diongbháil (quality of being constant) · fr constance (quality of being constant) · fi vakaus (quality of being constant) · gl constancia (unchanging quality or characteristic of a person or thing) · pt constância (unchanging quality or characteristic of a person or thing) · cmn 坚定不移 (quality of being constant) · la firmitudo (quality of being constant) · la firmitudo (unchanging quality or characteristic of a person or thing) · de Ausdauer (unchanging quality or characteristic of a person or thing) · es constancia (unchanging quality or characteristic of a person or thing) · ga seasmhacht (quality of being constant) · it costanza (quality of being constant) · el σταθερότητα (unchanging quality or characteristic of a person or thing) · cmn 恒心 (quality of being constant) · cy cysondeb (quality of being constant) · tl ligo (quality of being constant) · pt constância (quality of being constant) · tl kaliguhan (quality of being constant) · bg устойчивост (quality of being constant) · ga diongbháilteacht (quality of being constant) · la firmitas (unchanging quality or characteristic of a person or thing) · ca constància (quality of being constant) · fi ominaisuus (unchanging quality or characteristic of a person or thing) · mk постојаност (quality of being constant) · de Beständigkeit (quality of being constant) · bg постоянство (quality of being constant) · grc ἀπλάνεια (quality of being constant) · de Konstanz (quality of being constant) · fi muuttumattomuus (quality of being constant) · la firmitas (quality of being constant) · la firmitas (unchanging quality or characteristic of a person or thing) · fi pysyvyys (quality of being constant) · mi tūmautanga (quality of being constant) · gl constancia (quality of being constant) · es constancia (quality of being constant) · cy cysondeb (unchanging quality or characteristic of a person or thing)