In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
COUNTERPOISE
counterweight, counterbalance, counterpoise, balance, equalizer, equaliser
(noun) a weight that balances another weight
counterweight, counterpoise, counterpose
(verb) constitute a counterweight or counterbalance to
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
counterpoise (plural counterpoises)
A weight sufficient to balance another, for example in the opposite end of scales; an equal weight.
An equal power or force acting in opposition; a force sufficient to balance another force.
The relation of two weights or forces which balance each other; equilibrium
Synonym: equiponderance
Verb
counterpoise (third-person singular simple present counterpoises, present participle counterpoising, simple past and past participle counterpoised)
To act against with equal weight; to equal in weight; to balance the weight of; to counterbalance.
To act against with equal power; to balance.
Source: Wiktionary
Coun"ter*poise` (koun"tr-poiz`; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterpoised (-poizd`); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterpoising.] Etym: [OE. countrepesen, counterpeisen, F. contrepeser. See Counter, adv., and Poise, v. t. ]
1. To act against with equal weight; to equal in weght; to balance the weight of; to counterbalance. Weigts, counterpoising one another. Sir K. Digby.
2. To act against with equal power; to balance. So many freeholders of English will be able to beard and counterpoise the rest. Spenser.
Coun"ter*poise` (koun"tr-poiz`), n. Etym: [OE. countrepese, OF. contrepois, F. contrepods. See Counter, adv., and Poise, n.]
1. A weight sufficient to balance another, as in the opposite scale of a balance; an equal weight. Fastening that to our exact balance, we put a metalline counterpoise into the opposite scale. Boyle.
2. An equal power or force acting in opposition; a force sufficient to balance another force. The second nobles are a counterpoise to the higher nobility, that they grow not too potent. Bacon.
3. The relation of two weights or forces which balance each other; equilibrum; equiponderance. The pendulous round eart, with balanced air, In counterpoise. Milton.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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10 June 2025
COMMUNICATIONS
(noun) the discipline that studies the principles of transmiting information and the methods by which it is delivered (as print or radio or television etc.); “communications is his major field of study”
Coffee Trivia
