Search the Dictionary

Act of weighing mentally; comparison; estimate. A fair balance of the advantages on either side. Atterbury.

of a watch or chronometer, answering to the pendulum of a clock; -- often called simply a balance.

Such as can be balanced.

The act or result of balancing or adjusting; equipoise; even adjustment of forces. [R.] Darwin.

One who balances, or uses a balance.

The last reef in a fore-and-aft sail, taken to steady the ship.

ight or power; to counteract the power or effect of; to countervail; to equiponderate; to balance. The remaining air was not able to counterbalance the mercurial cylinder. Boyle. The cstudy of mind is necessary to counterbalance and correct the influence of the study of nature. Sir W. Hamilton.

To make of equal weight; to balance equally; to counterbalance; to equiponderate.

ght; to exceed in weight or effect. Let dull Ajax bear away my right When all his days outbalance this one night. Dryden.

To cause to lose balance or equilibrium.

The testing of a ledger to discover whether the debits and credits balance, by finding whether the sum of the personal credits increased by the difference between the debit and credit sums in the merchandise and other impersonal accounts equals the sum of personal debits. The equality would not show that the items were…

Not balanced; not in equipoise; having no counterpoise, or having insufficient counterpoise. Let Earth unbalanced from her orbit fly. Pope.

Balanced or considered with reference to public weal. [Obs.] Shak.

Without inclination or dipping; -- said the magnetic needle balances itself horizontally, having no dip. The aclinic line is also termed the magnetic equator. Prof. August.

or surface, usually capable of adjustment but not of manipulation, for preserving lateral balance in an aëroplane or flying machine.

able of being manipulated by the pilot of a flying machine to preserve or destroy lateral balance; a hinged wing tip; a lateral stabilizing or balancing plane.

tive, rhythmically developed in consecutive single tones, so as to form a symmetrical and balanced whole, which may be sung by a single voice to the stanzas of a hymn or song, or even to plain prose, or played upon an instrument; a melody; a tune; an aria.

Balanced.

hat which is behind in payment, or which remains unpaid, though due; esp. a remainder, or balance which remains due when some part has been paid; arrearage; -- commonly used in the plural, as, arrears of rent, wages, or taxes. Locke. For much I dread due payment by the Greeks Of yesterday's arrear. Cowper. I have a lar…

h the vouchers, examine the parties and witnesses, allow or reject charges, and state the balance.