counter pointe (kounterpointa)

contrepointé.] In her., meeting at the points: said of two chevrons, one in the usual position and the other in verted. IMG:content-1447.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-1448.png:[ocr errors] IMG:content-1449.png:[blocks in formation] trapes contrapezo = It. con trap peso, chevron counter pointé ML. * contra pensum ( contrape sium after Rom.; also in diff. form con trap on dus ), F. contre, etc.), against, + pensum (> OF. pois, F. poids ), a weight, a portion, a pound: see counter- and poise. Cf. the verb.] 1. A weight equal to and balancing or counteracting another weight; specifically, a body or ma of the same weight with another opposed to it, as in the opposite scale of a bal ance. Fastening that to our exact balance, we put a metalline counterpoise into the opposite scale. Boyle , Spring of the Air. Hencé-2. Any equal power or force acting in opposition; a force sufficient to balance another force. They [the second nobles] are a counterpoise to the higher nobility. Bacon , Empire. He was willing to aid the opposite party in maintaining a sufficient degree of strength to form a counterpoise to that of the confederates. Pre scott, Ferd. and Isa., i. 3. Activity, and not despondency, is the true counterpoise to misfortune. Lowell, Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 311. 3. The state of being in equilibrium with another IMG:content-1450.png:[blocks in formation] The force and the distance of weights counterpoising one Sir K. Digby , Nature of Man's Soul. The heavine of bodies must be counterpoised by a plummet fastened about the pulley to the axis. Bp . Wilkins . Hence-2. To act against in any manner with equal power or effect; balance; restore the balance to. another ought to be reciprocal. The Turk is now counterpoised by the Persian. Raleigh , Hist. World. So many freeholders of English will be able to beard and to counterpoise the rest. Spenser, State of Ireland. I hold it not meet, that a few coniectures should coun terpoise the generall consent of all ages. Purchas , Pilgrimage, p. 41. This makes us happy, counterpoising our hearts in all miseries. Burton , Anat. of Mel., p. 598. counter-poison (koun'tėr-poi-zn), n. [= F. contre-poison; as counter- + poison .] A poison that destroys the effect of another; a poison used as an antidote to another; anything administered to counteract a poison; an antidote. At length we learned an antidote and counter poison against the filthy venomous water. R. Knox (Arber's Eng. Garner, I. 402). counter ponderate (koun-tèr-pon'de-rāt), v . t.; pret.and pp. counter ponderated , ppr. count erp on derating . To counterbalance; weigh against. counter-potent (koun-ter-põ'tent), a. In her ., charged with a pattern composed of tau-shaped figures supposed to represent the tops of taustaffs. The figures are called in English potents . The bearing counter-potent is generally cla ed among the heraldic furs. See fur .