preponderate Meaning, Definition & Usage

Pre*pon"der*ate transitive verb

Etymology

L. praeponderatus, p. p. of praeponderare; prae before + ponderare to weigh, fr., pondus, ponderis, a weight. See Ponder.

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Preponderated ; present participle & verbal noun Preponderating

Definitions

1. To outweigh; to overpower by weight; to exceed in weight; to overbalance.

   An inconsiderable weight, by distance from the center of the balance, will preponderate greater magnitudes. Glanvill.

2. To overpower by stronger or moral power.
3. To cause to prefer; to incline; to decide. Obs.

   The desire to spare Christian blood preponderates him for peace. Fuller.

Pre*pon"der*ate intransitive verb

Definitions

1. To exceed in weight; hence, to incline or descend, as the scale of a balance; figuratively, to exceed in influence, power, etc.; hence; to incline to one side; as, the affirmative side preponderated.

   That is no just balance in which the heaviest side will not preponderate. Bp. Wilkins.