Coun"ter*poise` ]
1.
To act against with equal weight; to equal in weght; to balance the weight of; to counterbalance.
Weigts, 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 1913.
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; equilibrum; equiponderance.
The pendulous round eart, with balanced air,
In counterpoise.
Milton.
© Webster 1913.