Hypertext Webster Gateway: "counterbalance"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Counterbalance \Coun`ter*bal"ance\ (-b?l"ans), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. {Counterbalanced} (-anst); p. pr. & vb. n.
{Counterbalancing}.]
To oppose with an equal weight or power; to counteract the
power or effect of; to countervail; to equiponderate; to
balance.

The remaining air was not able to counterbalance the
mercurial cylinder. --Boyle.

The cstudy of mind is necessary to counterbalance and
correct the influence of the study of nature. --Sir W.
Hamilton.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Counterbalance \Coun"ter*bal`ance\ (koun"t?r-b?l`ans), n.
A weight, power, or agency, acting against or balancing
another; as:
(a) A mass of metal in one side of a driving wheel or fly
wheel, to balance the weight of a crank pin, etc., on the
opposite side of the wheel.
(b) A counterpoise to balance the weight of anything, as of a
drawbridge or a scale beam.

Money is the counterbalance to all other things
purchasable by it. --Locke.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

counterbalance
n 1: an equivalent counterbalancing weight [syn: {counterweight},
{counterpoise}, {balance}, {equalizer}, {equaliser}]
2: equality of distribution [syn: {balance}, {equilibrium}, {equipoise}]
3: a compensating equivalent [syn: {offset}]
v 1: make up for, make good [syn: {compensate}, {even out}, {even
off}, {even up}]
2: place in opposition: can also be used in an abstract sense;
"Oppose thy steadfast gazing eyes to mine"- Shakespeare
[syn: {oppose}, {turn the scales}]
3: oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions;
"This will counteract the foolish actions of my
colleagues" [syn: {counteract}, {countervail}, {neutralize}]


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