overpoise

overpoise noun: that which outweighs; excessive weight.

Noun

overpoise (uncountable)

(figuratively) That which outweighs; excessive weight.
- And I hope, the known avowed use and experience of such great Men, and those in so great a number, is an abundant overpoise to the contrary Affirmation of this, or any other Novel Author whatsoever.1693, Robert South, chapter 7, in Animadversions upon Dr. Sherlock’s book, entituled A vindication of the holy and ever-blessed Trinity, London: Randal Taylor, pages 222–223
- I recognised
  The moths, with that great overpoise of wings
  Which makes a mystery of them how at all
  They can stop flying: […]1856, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh, Book 7, p. 272

Verb

overpoise (third-person singular simple present overpoises, present participle overpoising, simple past and past participle overpoised)

(obsolete) To exceed in importance, strength or value.
- But sith it pleased your maiestie, with so indifferent balance to ponder both our tales, I am throughlie persuaded, that my loiall innocencie shall be able, to ouerpoise his forged treacherie.1587, Raphael Holinshed et al., Holinshed's Chronicles, London: John Harrison et al., Volume 2, “A Treatise conteining a plaine and perfect description of Ireland,” p. 36
- To render a thing fit for rational belief, there is no more requir’d but that the motives for it do over-poise those against it […]1678, Richard Allestree, The Lively Oracles Given to Us, Oxford, Section 2, p. 24
Synonyms:

outweigh
(obsolete) To place excessive weight on (someone or something).
- Tis time [f]or me to stirre when such young boyes,
  Shal haue their weake neckes ouer poisd with crownes1598, George Chapman, The Blind Beggar of Alexandria, London: William Jones
- Whether cripples and mutilated persons, who have lost the greatest part of their thighs, will not sink but float, their lungs being abler to waft up their bodies, which are in others overpoised by the hinder legs, we have not made experiment.1658, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, London: N. Ekins, 3rd edition, Book 4, Chapter 6, p. 168
Synonyms:

overburden
(obsolete) To throw (someone or something) off balance.
- […] the Stone in my Fathers Body was so immense, that I’ve wonder’d it did not bunch up behind, and make him have a Hump-back, or at least overpoise him in walking, and drag him backward with its incredible weight.1691, John Dunton, chapter 6, in A Voyage Round the World, London: Richard Newcome, page 122
- […] Harry, perceiving his Instructor a little overpoised, suddenly gave him an inside Foot, and a Push at the same Instant toward the Part to which he inclined.1770, Henry Brooke, The Fool of Quality, volume 5, Dublin, page 146
Synonyms:

overbalance

Synonyms of overpoise

Forms of overpoise

third-person singular present	overpoises
present participle	overpoising
past participle	overpoised
past	overpoised

Origin of overpoise

From over- + poise.

Questions about overpoise

What does overpoise mean?: Overpoise means that which outweighs; excessive weight.
What part of speech is overpoise?: Overpoise can be a noun or a verb.

Words near overpoise in the dictionary

Adapted from Wiktionary: overpoise (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Cite this entry: “overpoise.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/overpoise. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.