n. & v.
n. 1 a force etc. equivalent to another on the opposite side. 2 a state of equilibrium. 3 a counterbalancing weight.
v.tr. 1 counterbalance. 2 compensate. 3 bring into or keep in equilibrium.
[ ME f. OF contrepeis, -pois, contrepeser (as COUNTER-, peis, pois f. L pensum weight: cf. POISE(1)) ]