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equipoise

[ee-kwuh-poiz, ek-wuh-]
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noun
  1. an equal distribution of weight; even balance; equilibrium.
  2. a counterpoise.
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verb (used with object), e·qui·poised, e·qui·pois·ing.
  1. to equal or offset in weight; balance.
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Origin of equipoise

First recorded in 1625–35; equi- + poise1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

counterpoisesymmetrycounterbalanceequilibrium

Examples from the Web for equipoise

Historical Examples

  • Even on the mornings when he felt ill, if he set to work he recovered his equipoise.

    Doctor Pascal

    Emile Zola

  • The mind became soured and morose, and lost much of its equipoise.

    Mary Barton

    Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

  • These and the retracted head and neck adjust the equipoise of the body.

  • I am positive it will agitate his equipoise to a protracted extent.

  • Lockwood started and for a moment he almost lost his equipoise.

    The Mystery Girl

    Carolyn Wells

British Dictionary definitions for equipoise

equipoise

noun
  1. even balance of weight or other forces; equilibrium
  2. a counterbalance; counterpoise
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verb
  1. (tr) to offset or balance in weight or force; balance
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for equipoise

n.

1650s, a contraction of the phrase equal poise (1550s); see equal (adj.) + poise (n.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper