balance 
Upon a fair finlanrr of tin- advantages on either side. 
tip. Attt'ihiiril. 
5. An equivalent or equalizing weight; that 
Which is put into one scale to oll'set the weight 
in the other; the weight necessary to make tt|> 
the difference between two unequal weights; a 
counterpoise, literally or figuratively. Spr. -id- 
eally 6. In niiniiii/, a counterpoise or counter- 
weight used in such a way as to assist the 
engine in lifting the load. 7. The part of a 
clock or watch which regulates the beats: for- 
merly, a pin oscillating on its center, and thus 
resembling the beam of a balance : now, n wheel. 
See bala*ce-v>kel.8. The arithmetical differ- 
ence between the two sides of an account: as, 
to strike a hnlmn-r. 9. The sum or amount 
necessary to balance the two sides of an ac- 
count, usually spoken of as u ilrliit or a ov</,/ 
hiiliini-i : as, 1 have still u IHI/HIKT at my bank- 
er's; a liiitiiui-r still due. 10. Asm-plus; a re- 
mainder; the rest; the residue ; what remains 
or is left over: as, he bequeathed the balance 
of his estate to A. H. ; the balance of a meal. 
[A colloquial use, of commercial origin.] 11. 
A balanced condition ; a state of equilibrium 
or equipoise : as, to lose one's balance. 
His credit Mow in doubtfilll ballttinii'i 1 hon^. 
V HUT, K. I.)., II. i. 3. 
12. Harmonious arrangement or adjustment; 
just proportion, especially in the arts of design. 
13. [cap.'} In natron., a sign of the zodiac, 
called in Latin Libra, which the sun enters at 
the equinox in September Aerostatic balance. 
sec u, rnsiniii:- Automaton balance. See auiimiitiini. 
Balance of power, in international law, a distribution 
anil an opposition of forces among; nations forming part of 
one syste in, such that no state shall he in a position, either 
atone or united with others, to impose iU own will on any 
other state or interfere with its independence. (Ortolan.) 
The leading rule by which it has been sought to effect this 
in Kurope has been to oppose every new arrangement 
which threatens either materially to augment the strength 
of one of the greater powers or to diminish that of another. 
The meaning of the balance of pouvr is this : that any 
European state may be restrained from pursuing plans of 
aci[iiisition, or making preparations looking towards fu- 
ture acquisitions, which are judged to be hazardous to the 
independence and national existence of its neighbors. 
Woolsey, Introd. to Inter. Law, 43. 
Balance Of probabilities, the excess of reasons for be- 
lieving one of two alternatives over the reasons for be- 
lieving the other. It is measured by the logarithm of the 
ratio of the chances in favor of a proposition to the chances 
against it. Balance Of trade, the difference between 
the amount or value of the commodities exported from 
and imported into a country. The balance is said to be 
favorable for or in favor of a country when the value of 
its exports exceeds that of its imports, and unfavorable 
when the value of its imports exceeds that of its exports. 
Bent-lever balance. See tanyent-balance. Compen- 
sation balance. See compensation. Danish, balance, 
a weighing apparatus somewhat resembling the steelyard, 
but differing from it in hav- 
ing the fulcrum movable, 
the weight being at one end 
and the load at the other ; 
the loop by which it is sus- 
pended is shifted along the 
beam until equilibrium is es- 
tablished. The weight of the 
substance in the scale-pan is 
indicated by the point at which the fulcrum is placed when 
the instrument is in equilibrium. Electric balance. See 
absolute electrometer, under electrometer; di/erential qalva- 
nometer, under galvanometer; induction-balance; Wheat- 
stone's bridge, under resistance. Expansive balance, a 
compensation-balance in watches, consisting of a com- 
pound rim whose outer and inner portions are made of 
metals having different rates of expansion by heat. This 
arrangement serves to counteract the effects of variations 
of temperature upon thespeed of the watch. False bal- 
ance, a balance having arms of unequal length, or of 
equal length and unequal weight, so that its positions 
when empty ami when carrying equal weights in the two 
pans are different. Hydraulic balance. See hydraulic. 
Hydrostatic balance. See hydrostatic. Hygromet- 
ric balance. seeAjwr<mirric. Roberval's balance, a 
balance having two Horizontal beams one over the other, 
connected at their extremities by joints to vertical pieces, 
so that the whole forms a linked parallelogram. The scales 
are at the top. The advantage of the contrivance is, that 
it makes it a matter of indilference at what point on the 
pan the object to be weighed, or the counterpoise, is 
placed. An improved form of this balance is commonly 
used to weigh articles sold by druggists. Roman bal- 
ance, a steelyard (which see). Spring-balance, a con- 
trivance for determining the weight of any article by ob- 
serving the amount of deflection or compression which it 
produces upon a helical steel spring properly adjusted and 
fitted with an index working against a graduated scale. 
Another form of spring-balance is made in the shape of 
the letter C, the upper end being suspended by a ring, 
ami the lower end affording attachment for the hook 
whereby the object is suspended. As the bow opens a fln- 
i, r er traverses a graduated arc and registers the weight. 
Thermic or actinic balance. Same as bolometer. To 
cast the balance, to turn the scale ; cause one scale to 
preponderate : often used figuratively. South; Dryden. 
To hold in balance, to keep in a state of uncertainty or 
>anish Balance. 
suspense. 
She wolde not fonde 
To holde no wight in balaunce 
By halfe worde ne by counteuaunce. 
ChatKf r, Death of Blanche, 1. 1020. 
425 
To lay In balance, t<. put up as ;i pi. -din- ..r security. 
\ Y wi.Iile nat fitl'KHIi hi* a.)Ucyiltanc. 
KIT in.iellel ui.nil. I dal /,;/, ffj 
Al thiit I have in m> )..,--. -Mnun. 
t't/uin'i-r, 1'rul. to I 'an. .u , Ye.. man's Tut. . 1. ."- 
To pay a balance, t<> pay the diiivivn, - t . an,i make t.. 
a. -..unit:, equal. Torsion-balance, an instrument for 
measuriu;: riTtaiu electrical force,- an.l the intensity uf 
niaiini-ta. It consist* of a magnetic m.,n. 
a silk thread or a very line wire in a glass cylinder, of 
which the ei iv u MI lei. -nee i* graduated. The f. nee ..r ma-.- 
net t.i In- measured is applied to one side ..f the cylinder, 
cither inside .,i ,,nt -i.h , and its intensity is indicated l.y 
tile amount nf deflection of the suspended needle, uliicll 
is i -ailM-d t> e\ert a force of t.irsiiui mi the thread or wire 
which supports it. (See also alloy-balance, amay-bal- 
a a,; . coin l,nl, i u, . lairroau I, i luilauet, inilMone-li" 
= Syn. 10. See /', iii'iin.l, , . 
balance (bal'ans), v. ; pret. and pp. balanced, 
|i|ir. balancing. |= F. Imlu uri-r = I'r. Imlansar 
= S[i. liiiln 11:111- (oiis.), Im/iincear = Pg. Imliiiii-iii- 
= It. bilanciare, balance; from the noun.] I. 
trims. 1. To weigh; especially, to weigh or con- 
sider in the mind ; ponder over. 
In the mean while I will go for the said Instrument, 
and 'till my Return you may Imllnn,; this Matter in j out- 
own Discretion. Congrece, Way of tin: World, v. (i. 
She balanced this a little, 
And told me she would answer us to-day. 
Tennyson, Princess, iii. U!). 
2. To estimate the relative weight or impor- 
tance of, as two or more things; make a com- 
parison between as to relative importance, 
force, value, etc. 
Balance the good and evil of things. Sir R. L' Estrange. 
3. To bring into a state of equipoise or equi- 
librium; arrange or adjust (the several parts of 
a thing) symmetrically : as, to balance the sev- 
eral parts of a machine or a painting. 4. 
To keep in equilibrium or equipoise; poise; 
steady: as, to balance a pole on one's chin. 
I cannot give due action to my words, 
Except a sword or sceptre balance it. 
Shale., 2 Hen. VI., v. 1. 
The maids of Nazareth, as they trooped to All 
Their balanced urns beside the mountain rill. 
O. W. Holmes, The Mother's Secret. 
5. To serve as a counterpoise to ; counter- 
balance; offset: as, the ups and downs of 
life balance each other. 
One expression in the letter must check and balance the 
other. Kent. 
In the case of a precision steel-yard, it is best so to dis- 
tribute the mass of the licam that the right arm hiliinc,-* 
the left one. Encyc. Brit., III. 262. 
6. To bring into a state of equality; make 
equal; offset (one thing with another). 
To iniiii,,,; fortune by a just expense, 
Join with economy, magnificence ; 
With splendour, charity ; with plenty, health. 
Pope, Moral Essays, iii. 223. 
Like souls that balance joy and pain. 
Tennyson, Lancelot and Guinevere. 
Weariness was balanced with delight. 
William Morris, Earthly Paradise, I. 240. 
7. To use as a counterpoise or set-off. 
Is it a rule of oratory to balance the style against the 
subject, and to handle the most sublime truths in the dull- 
est language and the driest manner? 
Sydney Smith, in Lady Holland, iii. 
The . . . wisdom which balanced Egypt against Assyria. 
Pusey, Minor Prophets, p. 47. 
8. To sway up and down, like the arms of a 
balance. 
Henley stands, 
Tuning his voice, and balancing his hands. 
Pope, Dunciad, iii. 200. 
9. To settle by paying what remains due on an 
account ; equalize or adjust. 
Though I am very well satisfied that it is not in my 
power to balance accounts with my Maker, I am resolved, 
however, to turn all my endeavours that way. 
Addixon, Spectator. 
10. To examine or compare by summations, 
etc., so as to show how assets and liabilities or 
debits and credits stand : as, let us balance our 
accounts. 11. Naut., to steady (a ship in bad 
weather) by reefing with a balance-reef Bal- 
anced copula. See cojmla. To balance books, to close 
or adjust each personal or general account in a ledger. 
II. iii trans. 1. To have an equality or equiv- 
alence in weight, parts, etc.; be in a state 
of equipoise; be evenly adjusted: as, the two 
things exactly balance; I cannot make the ac- 
count balance. 2. To oscillate like the beams 
of a balance; waver; hesitate. [Rare.] 
He would not balance nor err in the determination of 
his choice. Locke. 
3. In dancing, to move forward and backward, 
or in opposite directions, like the arms of a 
balance; especially, to set to a partner. 4. To 
be employed in finding the balance or balances 
of an account or accounts. 
balance-plow 
Oh ! who wi.llld east and tml,i ,n;' at a desk, 
I'ereh'd like a en.w Upon a Ihree-li-l-'^'il st.xd. 
Till all his juice is dried ''. I', n,,,/.^.,,, Aii.lley Court. 
balance-bar (bal'ans-l.;il ). . Same as /;/- 
lirilllt, '_'. 
balance-barometer (bal'ans-ba-rom'e-ter). . 
A barometer consisting of a beam balanced on 
a pivot, and formed, on opposite sides of the 
pivot, of materials differing gresilly in specific 
gravity. The bulks of the part- "ii .ill,, r -i.le of the 
fulcnii niieutly the v.lnni. - "I air displaced 
In ih, in, tlnis ditl.-r greatly. If the air increases in den- 
sity, its effective bin ij alley on tile re bulky arm con- 
xideraUy i -.. <t IIIKHI tile smaller ; thet'urnier 
therefore rises. If the air becomes lighter, the reverse 
happens. The vil.rati.ms are n..ted np..n a M ale. 
balance-beam (bal'ans-bem), . 1. The beam 
of a balance. 2. A long beam attached to a 
drawbridge, the gate of a canal-lock, etc., serv- 
ing partially to counterbalance its weight, and 
used iii opening and closing it. Also called 
liil/iniri- Ixir. 
balance-bob (bal'ans-bob), n. A beam, bent 
lever, or bob, rocking or oscillating on an axis, 
and having at one end a counterpoise, while 
the other is attached to the rod of a Cornish 
pumping-engine. It is designed to relieve the strain 
on the cuuiiic and rod resulting from lifting a heavy load. 
Also called oscillating or rocking in,': See ho&l. 
balance-book (bal'ans-buk). n. In com., a 
book in which the adjusted debtor and credi- 
tor accounts have been posted from the ledger. 
balance-bridge (bal'ans-brij), n. A bridge in 
which the overhang beyond an abutment is 
counterbalanced either by means of heavy 
weights connected with it by chains running 
over pulleys, or by a portion of the roadway 
which extends backward from the abutment. 
See bascule-bridge. 
balance-crane (bal'ans-kran), . A crane in 
which the load is counterbalanced in whole or 
in part by a weight, swinging with the load, but 
placed upon the opposite side of the pintle or 
post. 
balance-dynamometer (bal'ans-di-na-mom'e- 
ter), n. A form of dynamometer in which the 
principle of the steelyard is used to estimate 
the number of foot-pounds of power. The ap- 
paratus is attached between two pulleys, of which one re- 
ceives and the other transmits the motive force, and is 
operated by means of loose pulleys, upon which the belts 
are shifted when it is desired to test the power. Also 
called bevel-gear transmitting dynamometer. See cut un- 
der dynamometer. 
balance-electrometer (bal'ans-e-lek-trom'e- 
ter), n. A form of absolute electrometer. See 
electrometer. 
balance-engine (bal'ans-en'jin), n. A steam- 
engine which has two pistons acting in oppo- 
site directions in the same cylinder. 
balance-fish (barans-fish), n. A name of the 
hammerhead, or hammer-headed shark, Sphyr- 
na malleus : so called because the sides of the 
head resemble the arms of a balance. Also 
called hammer-fish. See cut under hammer- 
head. 
balance-frame (bal'ans-fram), . One of two 
frames of a ship which are of equal weight and 
at equal distances from its center of gravity. 
balance-gate (bal'ans-gSt). n. 1. Agate either 
so supported in the middle, or so counter- 
weighted, that its weight may rest vertically 
upon the gate-post instead of hanging upon one 
side of it. 2. In hydraulics, a gate having equal 
areas upon each side of the supporting post, so 
that the action of a current may not impede its 
movement. 
balance-level (barans-lev'el), n. A builders' 
or surveyors' instrument, consisting of a bar 
exactly balanced and suspended by a cord, and 
carrying two sights which show the line of 
level. Sometimes the bar is placed at right angles to a 
rod, the whole being allowed to hang like a pendulum. A 
telescope is sometimes substituted for the bar and sights. 
balancement (bal'ans-ment), n. [< balance, t., 
+ -ment.~\ The act of balancing, or the state 
of being balanced. [Rare.] 
The law of compensation or balancement . . . would 
tend to cause the pistil to be reduced in those individuals 
In which the stamens were greatly developed, and to be 
increased in length in those which had their stamens but 
little developed. 
Dancin, Different Forms of Flowers, p. 262. 
balance-pit (bal'ans-pit), n. In mining, the 
shaft or excavation in which the balance or 
counterpoise moves. 
balance-plow (bal'ans-plou), n. A plow in 
which two sets of plow-bodies and colters are 
attached to an iron frame moving on a fulcrum, 
one set at either extremity, and pointing in 
different directions. The balance-plow U Intended 
