▪ I. † equiˈlibrate, a. Obs.
[ad. L. æquilībrāt-us in equilibrium, pa. pple. of *æquilībrāre, f. æqui- (see equi-) + lībra balance.]
Equally balanced.
| 1693 Phil. Trans. XVII. 810 Next for the Earth, Plato says it was equilibrate without Inclination. |
▪ II. equilibrate, v.
(iːkwɪˈlɪbreɪt, -ˈlai-, -ˈkwɪlɪ-)
Also 8 æquilibrate.
[f. late L. æquilībrāt- ppl. stem of *æquilībrāre: see prec.]
1. trans. To bring into or keep in a state of equipoise or equilibrium; to balance. Also const. with.
| 1635 N. Carpenter Geog. Del. i. iii. 67 An iron-wire or needle, first equilibrated, and then stirred vp by the loadstone. 1713 Derham Phys. Theol. v. ii. 327 The Shoulders, Arms, and Sides æquilibrated on one Part. 1733 Arbuthnot Air (J.), The bodies of fishes are equilibrated with the water in which they swim. 1844 De Quincey Logic Pol. Econ. 230 To equilibrate the supply with the demand. 1860 Adm. Fitz-Roy in Merc. Mar. Mag. VII. 356 It must go to equilibrate the atmosphere. 1872 Contemp. Rev. XX. 99 He may wisely try to equilibrate his impulses. |
2. To be in equilibrium with; to counterpoise, balance.
| 1829 Nat. Philos., Mechanics iii. ii. 10 (Usef. Knowl. Soc.), The weight which equilibrates that of the body. 1865 Spectator 4 Feb. 117 The excise duty on English malt is supposed to equilibrate the import duty on foreign malt. 1870 R. M. Ferguson Electr. 122 The two forces would equilibrate each other. |
3. absol. and intr. To be in a state of equilibrium; to balance. Const. with.
| 1829 Nat. Philos., Mechanics iii. ii. 10 (Usef. Knowl. Soc.), This weight will equilibrate with that of the body. 1830 Kater & Lardn. Mech. x. 129 The forces neutralise each other and mutually equilibrate. 1862 F. Hall Hindu Philos. Syst. 17 When virtue and sin equilibrate, one inherits humanity. 1882 E. A. Douglas in Nature XXV. 504 In order that solar gravity and centrifugal force may equilibrate. |
Hence equilibrated, equilibrating ppl. adjs.
| 1664 Power Exp. Philos. iii. 161 It will acquire so strong a Magnetism..that it will..turn an equilibrated Needle. 1816 J. Smith Panorama Sc. & Art I. 230 To explain the nature of the equilibrated arch. 1761 Earl Pembroke Equitation (1778) 26 By a proper equilibrating position of the body. 1797 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) IV. 156 An equilibrating power against the fecundity of generation. 1882 Minchin Unipl. Kinemat. 25 An equilibrating system of forces. |