Parallel

Parallel "Par"al*lel", n. 1. A line which, throughout its whole extent, is equidistant from another line; a parallel line, a parallel plane, etc.
Who made the spider parallels design, Sure as De Moivre, without rule or line ? -Pope.
2. Direction conformable to that of another line,
Lines that from their parallel decline. -Garth.
3. Conformity continued through many particulars or in all essential points; resemblance; similarity.
Twixt earthly females and the moon All parallels exactly run. -Swift.
4. A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity; as, Johnson's parallel between Dryden and Pope.
5. Anything equal to, or resembling, another in all essential particulars; a counterpart.
None but thyself can be thy parallel. -Pope.
6. (Geog.) One of the imaginary circles on the surface of the earth, parallel to the equator, marking the latitude; also, the corresponding line on a globe or map.
7. (Mil.) One of a series of long trenches constructed before a besieged fortress, by the besieging force, as a cover for troops supporting the attacking batteries. They are roughly parallel to the line of outer defenses of the fortress.
8. (Print.) A character consisting of two parallel vertical lines (thus, ||) used in the text to direct attention to a similarly marked note in the margin or at the foot of a page.
. See under , v. t.
(Astron.), one of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the horizon; an almucantar.
(Astron.), one of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the equator.
. (a) (Geog.) See def. 6. above. (b) (Astron.) One of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the ecliptic.