ppl. a. [f. as prec. + -ED.]
1. lit. Poised; so arranged, placed or adjusted with a counterpoise, as to remain in equilibrium.
1611. Cotgr., Balancé, Ballanced, weighed, peised.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 1000. The pendulous round Earth with ballanc’t Aire In counterpoise.
1814. Scott, Ld. of Isles, III. xv. Loose crags … chance-poised and balanced, lay.
1869. Daily News, 12 June, 5/7. The Cerberus has a balanced rudder.
2. Having the opposed parts or tendencies so adjusted as to produce equilibrium or equality.
1592. Daniel, Compl. Rosam. (1717), 47. Thus stood I ballanc’d equally precise, Till my frail Flesh did weigh me down to Sin.
1727. Swift, Balance Eur., Wks. 1755, III. II. 128. Now Europe’s balanc’d, neither side prevails.
1870. Jebb, Sophocles’ Electra, Introd. 10. Contending and almost balanced claims.
1877. Ruskin, Laws Fesole, I. ii. Every system is imperfect which pays more than a balanced and equitable attention to any one of the three skills.
3. Well arranged or disposed; stable in character by due proportion of parts.
1624. Quarles, Sion’s Sonn. (1717), 349. The ruby portals of thy ballanc’d words Send forth a welcome relish.
1836. J. Gilbert, Chr. Atonem., iii. (1852), 60. Neither can it … operate with any weight upon a justly balanced mind.
1878. T. Sinclair, Mount, 83. The birth of a balanced artist.
4. Logic. (See quot.)
1849. Abp. Thomson, Laws Th., § 71. The middle [term] is said to be balanced when it is distributed in both premisses alike. The extremes of the conclusion are balanced when both alike are distributed.
1870. Bowen, Logic, viii. 258. Moods … balanced as respects both Terms and Propositions.
