a. and sb. Also 7 equiponderent, 7–9 æquiponderant. [ad. med.L. æquiponderant-em, pr. pple. of æquiponderāre: see next vb. Cf. Fr. équipondérant.]

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  A.  adj.

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  1.  † a. Having its weight equally distributed; evenly balanced. † b. Of equal specific gravity. c. Of equal weight.

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  a.  1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. ii. 61. If the needle be not exactly equiponderant, that end which is a thought too light, if touched becommeth even.

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  b.  1691.  Ray, Creation (1714), 26. May serve to render their Bodies equiponderant to the Water.

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1766.  Amory, Life J. Buncle (1770), IV. 100. To make gold, other metals must be rendered equiponderant to it.

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  c.  1660.  Boyle, New Exp. Phys.-Mech., xxxvi. 291. The quantity of Air to a quantity of Water equiponderant thereto, is as 1300 to 1.

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1777.  Shuckburgh, in Phil. Trans., LXVII. 557. The proportional gravity of quicksilver to air will express inversely the length of two equiponderant columns of these fluids.

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1821.  J. Q. Adams, in C. Davies, Metric Syst., III. (1871), 95. The silver penny … to which 32 kernels of wheat were equiponderant was equal to 221/2 grains troy.

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  2.  Of immaterial things: a. Of equal weight, importance, force or influence. b. Evenly balanced.

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c. 1630.  Jackson, Creed, VI. xi. Wks. 1844, V. 290. In a measure equiponderent to their weight upon our souls.

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1747.  Johnson, Plan Eng. Dict., Wks. IX. 172. The equiponderant authorities of writers alike eminent for judgment and accuracy.

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1833.  Q. Rev., XLIX. 550. The theory of three distinct and equiponderant estates.

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1882.  Symonds, Animi Figura, 127. Equiponderant strife ’twixt good And evil.

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  B.  sb. pl. Things of equal weight.

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1852.  Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss., 326. The treatise on Æquiponderants by Archimedes.

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