Adjacent Words

Counterpoise definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

COUNTERPOISE, v.t. s as z. [See Poise.]
1. To counterbalance; to weigh against with equal weight; to be equiponderant to; to equal in weight.
The force and distance of weights counterpoising each other, ought to be reciprocal.
The heaviness of bodies must be counterpoised by a plummet fastened about the pulley to the axis.
2. To act against the equal power or effect; to balance. The wisdom of the senate may be able to counterpoise the rash impetuosity of a democratic house.
COUNTERPOISE, n.
1. Equal weight acting in opposition to something; equiponderance; a weight sufficient to balance another in the opposite scale; equal balance.
2. Equal power or force acting in opposition; a force sufficient to balance another force; equipollence.
The second nobles are a counterpoise to the higher nobility.
3. In the manege, a position of the rider in which his body is duly balanced in his seat, not inclined more to one than the other.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a weight that balances another weight [syn: counterweight, counterbalance, counterpoise, balance, equalizer, equaliser] v
1: constitute a counterweight or counterbalance to [syn: counterweight, counterpoise, counterpose]

Merriam Webster's

I. transitive verb Etymology: Middle English countrepesen, from Anglo-French contrepeser, from cuntre- + peser to weigh — more at poise Date: 14th century counterbalance II. noun Date: 15th century 1. counterbalance 2. an equivalent power or force acting in opposition 3. a state of balance

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a force etc. equivalent to another on the opposite side. 2 a state of equilibrium. 3 a counterbalancing weight. --v.tr. 1 counterbalance. 2 compensate. 3 bring into or keep in equilibrium. Etymology: ME f. OF contrepeis, -pois, contrepeser (as COUNTER-, peis, pois f. L pensum weight: cf. POISE(1))

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. Counterbalance, balance, countervail. II. n. Equal weight, neutralizing force.