counterpoise

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: coun=ter=poise

CIDE DICTIONARY

counterpoise, v. t. [OE. countrepesen, counterpeisen, F. contrepeser. See Counter, adv., and Poise, v. t. ].

•  To act against with equal weight; to equal in weight; to balance the weight of; to counterbalance.  [1913 Webster]

  "Weights, counterpoising one another."  [1913 Webster]
•  To act against with equal power; to balance.  [1913 Webster]

  "So many freeholders of English will be able to beard and counterpoise the rest."  [1913 Webster]

counterpoise, n. [OE. countrepese, OF. contrepois, F. contrepods. See Counter, adv., and Poise, n.].

•  A weight sufficient to balance another, as in the opposite scale of a balance; an equal weight.  [1913 Webster]

  "Fastening that to our exact balance, we put a metalline counterpoise into the opposite scale."  [1913 Webster]
•  An equal power or force acting in opposition; a force sufficient to balance another force.  [1913 Webster]

  "The second nobles are a counterpoise to the higher nobility, that they grow not too potent."  [1913 Webster]
•  The relation of two weights or forces which balance each other; equilibrium; equiponderance.  [1913 Webster]

  "The pendulous round eart, with balanced air,
  In counterpoise."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

counterpoise, 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))

ROGET THESAURUS

counterpoise

Compensation

N compensation, equation, commutation, indemnification, compromise, neutralization, nullification, counteraction, reaction, measure for measure, retaliation, equalization, robbing Peter to pay Paul, set-off, offset, make-weight, casting-weight, counterpoise, ballast, indemnity, equivalent, quid pro quo, bribe, hush money, amends, counterbalance, counterclaim, cross-debt, cross- demand, compensating, compensatory, countervailing, in the opposite scale, equivalent, in return, in consideration, but, however, yet, still, notwithstanding, nevertheless, nathless, none the less, although, though, albeit, howbeit, mauger, at all events, at any rate, be that as it may, for all that, even so, on the other, hand, at the same time, quoad minus, quand meme, however that may be, after all is said and done, taking one thing with another, light is mingled with the gloom, every dark cloud has a silver lining, primo avulso non deficit alter, saepe creat molles aspera spina rosas.

VB make compensation, compensate, compense, indemnify, counteract, countervail, counterpoise, balance, outbalance, overbalance, counterbalance, set off, hedge, square, give and take, make up for, lee way, cover, fill up, neutralize, nullify, equalize, make good, redeem.

Hindrance

N hindrance, prevention, preclusion, obstruction, stoppage, embolus, embolism, infarct, interruption, interception, interclusion, hindrance, impedition, retardment, retardation, embarrassment, oppilation, coarctation, stricture, restriction, restraint, inhibition, blockade, interference, interposition, obtrusion, discouragement, discountenance, impediment, let, obstacle, obstruction, knot, knag, check, hitch, contretemps, screw loose, grit in the oil, bar, stile, barrier, turnstile, turnpike, gate, portcullis, beaver dam, trocha, barricade, wall, dead wall, sea wall, levee breakwater, groyne, bulkhead, block, buffer, stopper, boom, dam, weir, burrock, drawback, objection, stumbling-block, stumbling-stone, lion in the path, snag, snags and sawyers, encumbrance, incumbrance, clog, skid, shoe, spoke, drag, drag chain, drag weight, stay, stop, preventive, prophylactic, load, burden, fardel, onus, millstone round one's neck, impedimenta, dead weight, lumber, pack, nightmare, Ephialtes, incubus, old man of the sea, remora, difficulty, insuperable, obstacle, estoppel, ill wind, head wind, trammel, tether, hold back, counterpoise, damper, wet blanket, hinderer, marplot, killjoy, party pooper, party crasher, interloper, trail of a red herring, opponent, hindering, obstructive, obstruent, impeditive, impedient, intercipient, prophylactic, impedimentary, in the way of, unfavorable, onerous, burdensome, cumbrous, cumbersome, obtrusive, hindered, windbound, waterlogged, heavy laden, hard pressed, unassisted &c (assist), single-handed, alone, deserted, occurrent nubes.

Counteraction

VB counteract, run counter, clash, cross, interfere with, conflict with, contravene, jostle, go against, run against, beat against, militate against, stultify, antagonize, block, oppose, traverse, withstand, hinder, repress, react, undo, neutralize, counterpoise, overpoise.

Gravity

N gravity, gravitation, weight, heaviness, specific gravity, pondorosity, pressure, load, burden, burthen, ballast, counterpoise, lump of, mass of, weight of, lead, millstone, mountain, Ossa on Pelion, weighing, ponderation, trutination, weights, avoirdupois weight, troy weight, apothecaries' weight, grain, scruple, drachma, ounce, pound, lb, arroba, load, stone, hundredweight, cwt, ton, long ton, metric ton, quintal, carat, pennyweight, tod, gram, centigram, milligram, microgram, kilogram, nanogram, picogram, femtogram, attogram, balance, scale, scales, steelyard, beam, weighbridge, spring balance, piezoelectric balance, analytical balance, two-pan balance, one-pan balance, postal scale, baby scale, statics, weighty, weighing, heavy as lead, ponderous, ponderable, lumpish, lumpy, cumbersome, burdensome, cumbrous, unwieldy, massive, incumbent, superincumbent.