The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.
COUNTERBALANCE
counterweight, counterbalance, counterpoise, balance, equalizer, equaliser
(noun) a weight that balances another weight
counterbalance, offset
(noun) a compensating equivalent
balance, equilibrium, equipoise, counterbalance
(noun) equality of distribution
counteract, countervail, neutralize, counterbalance
(verb) oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions; “This will counteract the foolish actions of my colleagues”
oppose, counterbalance
(verb) contrast with equal weight or force
compensate, counterbalance, correct, make up, even out, even off, even up
(verb) adjust for; “engineers will work to correct the effects or air resistance”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
counterbalance (plural counterbalances)
(literally) A weight that is put in opposition to an equal weight so it keeps that in balance.
(figuratively) A force or influence that balances, checks or limits an opposite one.
Synonyms
• counterpoise
• counterweight
Verb
counterbalance (third-person singular simple present counterbalances, present participle counterbalancing, simple past and past participle counterbalanced)
(transitive) To apply weight in order to balance an opposing weight.
Synonyms: counterpoise, equiponderate, counterweight
Hypernym: offset
Antonym: outweigh
(transitive, figuratively) To match or equal in effect when applying opposing force
Synonyms: counterpoise, counteract
Antonyms: overcome, overpower
Source: Wiktionary
Coun`ter*bal"ance (-bl"ans), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterbalanced (- anst); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterbalancing.]
Definition: To oppose with an equal weight or power; to counteract the power or effect of; to countervail; to equiponderate; to balance. The remaining air was not able to counterbalance the mercurial cylinder. Boyle. The cstudy of mind is necessary to counterbalance and correct the influence of the study of nature. Sir W. Hamilton.
Coun"ter*bal`ance (koun"tr-bl`ans), n.
Definition: A weight, power, or agency, acting against or balancing another; as: (a) A mass of metal in one side of a driving wheel or fly wheel, to balance the weight of a crank pin, etc., on the opposite side of the wheel. (b) A counterpoise to balance the weight of anything, as of a drawbridge or a scale beam. Money is the counterbalance to all other things purchasable by it. Locke.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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23 January 2025
LEFT
(adjective) being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north; “my left hand”; “left center field”; “the left bank of a river is bank on your left side when you are facing downstream”
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