1
- a factor, force, or influence that balances or neutralizes another中和因素; 平衡力; 抗衡影响：
the organization sees the power of Brussels as a counterpoise to that of London.
该组织视布鲁塞尔为伦敦的抗衡力量。
1.1
- mass noun archaic a state of equilibrium〈古〉均衡, 平衡（状态）。
1.2
- a counterbalancing weight衡重体, 砝码。
with obj.
1- have an opposing and balancing effect on抵消, 中和; 使平衡; 使均衡：
our ideal of what God can do in our lives is counterpoised by the actual human condition we are in.
我们对于上帝可以在我们生活中做什么的理想被人类的现实生活状况所抵消。
1.1
- bring into contrast使形成对照; 把…作对比：
the stories counterpoise a young recruit with an old-timer.
故事把年轻的新手与老手作对比。
词源
late Middle English: from Old French contrepois from contre 'against' + pois from Latin pensum 'weight'. Compare with POISE1. The verb, originally counterpeise, from Old French contrepeser, was altered under the influence of the noun in the 16th cent.