Also 6–9 with hyphen. [COUNTER- 8; in sense 4 app. from the vb.]
† 1. The opposite scale of a balance. Obs.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 120. As it were two counter-ballances, that their estate goes highest when the people goes lowest. Ibid. (1581), Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 48. If nothing be put in the counter-ballance.
2. A weight used to balance another weight; spec. that used to balance the weight of a rotating or ascending and descending part, so as to make it easily moved and to diminish its momentum when in motion; also to cause a rotating body to return to a particular position after being moved, etc.
1611. Cotgr., Contrebalance, a counterbalance, a counterpeise.
1730. A. Gordon, Maffei’s Amphith., 404. It comes out a Foot further than the Wall … to serve as a Counterballance.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., I. cxi. 82. The air is always a counter-balance to itself.
1875. R. F. Martin, trans. Havrez’ Winding Mach., 54. Employment of Counterbalance Chains. This counterbalance is made of large iron rings hung to the end of a chain with flat links, and working up and down a staple pit.
1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 27 April, 2/1. All the piston has to do … is to sustain the weight of the passengers, as the counterbalance lifts the car.
3. fig. A power or influence that balances the effect of a contrary one.
1640. in Hamilton Papers (Camden), App. 261. Hee held the Hammiltons a good counterballance to weigh the House of Lenox downe.
1745. J. Mason, Self Knowl., i. (1853), 134. Self Knowledge … will be a happy Counter-balance to the Faults and Excesses of his natural Temper.
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. (1863), 151. As a counter-balance to her other perfections.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., V. lxix. 320. Freedom was in his eyes a counterbalance to poverty, discord, and war.
† 4. Weighing of one thing against another; comparison. Obs.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), II. 23. [This] will appear if we cast them in counterbalance.
