Hypertext Webster Gateway: "counterpoise"

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

Counterpoise \Coun"ter*poise`\ (koun"t?r-poiz`; 277), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. {Counterpoised} (-poizd`); p. pr. & vb. n.
{Counterpoising}.] [OE. countrepesen, counterpeisen, F.
contrepeser. See {Counter}, adv., and {Poise}, v. t. ]
1. To act against with equal weight; to equal in weight; to
balance the weight of; to counterbalance.

Weights, counterpoising one another. --Sir K.
Digby.

2. To act against with equal power; to balance.

So many freeholders of English will be able to beard
and counterpoise the rest. --Spenser.

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

Counterpoise \Coun"ter*poise`\ (koun"t?r-poiz`), n. [OE.
countrepese, OF. contrepois, F. contrepods. See {Counter},
adv., and {Poise}, n.]
1. A weight sufficient to balance another, as in the opposite
scale of a balance; an equal weight.

Fastening that to our exact balance, we put a
metalline counterpoise into the opposite scale.
--Boyle.

2. An equal power or force acting in opposition; a force
sufficient to balance another force.

The second nobles are a counterpoise to the higher
nobility, that they grow not too potent. --Bacon.

3. The relation of two weights or forces which balance each
other; equilibrium; equiponderance.

The pendulous round eart, with balanced air, In
counterpoise. --Milton.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

counterpoise
n : an equivalent counterbalancing weight [syn: {counterweight},
{counterbalance}, {balance}, {equalizer}, {equaliser}]
v : constitute a counterweight or counterbalance to [syn: {counterweight},
{counterpose}]


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