preponderant, a.
(prɪˈpɒndərənt)
[ad. L. præponderānt-em, pr. pple. of præponderāre: see preponder. Cf. F. prépondérant (1723 in Hatz.-Darm.).]
Preponderating.
1. Surpassing in weight; outweighing, heavier.
| 1664 Power Exp. Philos. ii. 136 The internal Cylinder of Quicksilver in the Tube is not held up by the preponderant Ayr without. |
2. Surpassing in influence, power, or importance; predominant.
| 1660 tr. Amyraldus's Treat. conc. Relig. ii. ii. 180 If he judge the reasons which disswade the thing..to be preponderant, then he will..abstain from doing it. 1799 S. Turner Anglo-Sax. ii. i. 171 Ella is commemorated as the preponderant Saxon chief. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 239 The Roundhead party was now decidedly preponderant. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 77 Flexion at the metacarpo-phalangeal joints..from preponderant contraction of the interossei. |