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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Counterpoise

Coun'ter-poise', v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. COUNTER-POISED; p. pr. & vb. n. COUNTERPOISING.] [counter and poise, v. t., q. v.; Fr. contreposer, Pr. & Pg. contrepezar, Sp. contrapesar, It. contrappesare.] 1. To act against with equal weight; to equal in weight; to counterbalance. The force and distance of weights counterpoising each other ought to be reciprocal. Digby. 2. To act against with equal power or effect; to balance. So many freeholders of English will be able to beard and counterpoise the rest. Spencer.

Coun'ter-poise, n.

noun

n. [counter and poise, n., q. v.; Fr. contrepoids, Pr. contrapes, Sp. contrapeso, Pg. contrapeso, It. contrappeso.]

Sense 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.

Sense 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. Bacon.

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

The pendulous round earth, with balanced air In counterpoise. Milton.