preponderate

• POS: Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: pre=pon=der=ate

CIDE DICTIONARY

preponderate, v. t. [L. praeponderatus, p. p. of praeponderare; prae before + ponderare to weigh, fr., pondus, ponderis, a weight. See Ponder.].

•  To outweigh; to overpower by weight; to exceed in weight; to overbalance.  [1913 Webster]

  "An inconsiderable weight, by distance from the center of the balance, will preponderate greater magnitudes."  [1913 Webster]
•  To overpower by stronger or moral power.  [1913 Webster]
•  To cause to prefer; to incline; to decide.  [1913 Webster]

  "The desire to spare Christian blood preponderates him for peace."  [1913 Webster]

preponderate, v. i. 

 To exceed in weight; hence, to incline or descend, as the scale of a balance; figuratively, to exceed in influence, power, etc.; hence; to incline to one side; as, the affirmative side preponderated.  [1913 Webster]
"That is no just balance in which the heaviest side will not preponderate."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

preponderate, v.intr. (often foll. by over)
1 a be greater in influence, quantity, or number. b predominate.
2 a be of greater importance. b weigh more.

Etymology

L praeponderare (as PRAE-, PONDER)

THESAURUS

preponderate

best, bestride, better, cap, dictate, dominate, domineer, exceed, excel, go one better, have the ascendancy, improve on, master, outweigh, overbalance, overbear, overcome, overpass, overtop, perfect, play first fiddle, predominate, prevail, reign, rule the roost, surpass, take the lead, top, tower above, tower over, transcend, trump, twist, wear the pants

ROGET THESAURUS

preponderate

Superiority

VB be superior, exceed, excel, transcend, outdo, outbalance, outweigh, outrank, outrival, out-Herod, pass, surpass, get ahead of, over-top, override, overpass, overbalance, overweigh, overmatch, top, o'ertop, cap, beat, cut out, beat hollow, outstrip, eclipse, throw into the shade, take the shine out of, outshine, put one's nose out of joint, have the upper hand, have the whip hand of, have the advantage, turn the scale, kick the beam, play first fiddle, preponderate, predominate, prevail, precede, take precedence, come first, come to a head, culminate, beat all others, bear the palm, break the record, take the cake, become larger, render larger.

Authority

VB authorize, warrant, dictate, be at the head of, hold office, be in office, fill an office, hold master, occupy master, a post master, be master, have the upper hand, get the upper hand, have the whip, get the whip, gain a hold upon, preponderate, dominate, rule the roost, boss, override, overrule, overawe, lord it over, hold in hand, keep under, make a puppet of, lead by the nose, turn round one's little finger, bend to one's will, hold one's own, wear the breeches, have the ball at one's feet, have it all one's own way, have the game in one's own hand, have on the hip, have under one's thumb, be master of the situation, take the lead, play first fiddle, set the fashion, give the law to, carry with a high hand, lay down the law, ride in the whirlwind and direct the storm, rule with a rod of iron.