Equalizer

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈiː.kwəˌlaɪ.zə/

Definitions

1. A device that balances and aligns differing aspects or variables
2. An apparatus used to fine-tune the balance of sound by boosting or cutting specific audio frequency bands ; an individual who ensures fairness by making conditions the same for all parties
3. A tool designed to modify the tonal quality by regulating different frequency ranges in sound systems ; a person who brings about equality by eliminating differences or biases

Etymology: The word "equalizer" is a plain built-up formation: "equalize" plus the agent suffix "-er," meaning a thing that does the equalizing. The stem goes back to Latin "aequus," "level" or "even," which also gave English "equal" and "equity." That Latin root arrived by a long route, passing through Old Latin forms and Proto-Italic before reaching classical Latin. The verb "equalize" was made by adding the Greek-derived suffix "-ize" to "equal." That suffix came into Latin as "-izare" and then into Middle French as "-iser," which English borrowed as "-isen" in Middle English and later spelled "-ize." So the verb is an English word built from Latin material, with a Greek suffix in the middle, and the noun simply adds "-er" to it.

Synonyms: leveler, balancer, moderator, compensator, adjuster

Antonyms: imbalance, disparity, inequality, discrepancy, division