Part 873

<p><b>6.</b> <def>To make the sums of the debits and credits of an account equal; -- said of an item; <as>as, this payment, or credit, <ex>balances</ex> the account</as>.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>To arrange accounts in such a way that the sum total of the debits is equal to the sum total of the credits; <as>as, to <ex>balance</ex> a set of books</as>.</def>

<p><b>8.</b> <fld>(Dancing)</fld> <def>To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally; <as>as, to <ex>balance</ex> partners</as>.</def>

<p><b>9.</b> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass; <as>as, to <ex>balance</ex> the boom mainsail</as>.</def>

<cs><col>Balanced valve</col>. <cd>See <er>Balance valve</er>, under <er>Balance</er>, <tt>n.</tt></cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- To poise; weigh; adjust; counteract; neutralize; equalize.</syn>

<h1>Balance</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bal"ance</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To have equal weight on each side; to be in equipoise; <as>as, the scales <ex>balance</ex></as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To fluctuate between motives which appear of equal force; to waver; to hesitate.</def>

<blockquote>He would not <b>balance</b> or err in the determination of his choice. <i>Locke.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Dancing)</fld> <def>To move toward a person or couple, and then back.</def>

<h1>Balanceable</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bal"ance*a*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Such as can be balanced.</def>

<h1>Balancement</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bal"ance*ment</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act or result of balancing or adjusting; equipoise; even adjustment of forces.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Darwin.</i>

<h1>Balancer</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bal"an*cer</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>One who balances, or uses a balance.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>In Diptera, the rudimentary posterior wing.</def>

<h1>Balancereef</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bal"ance*reef`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>The last reef in a fore-and-aft sail, taken to steady the ship.</def>

<h1>Balance wheel</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bal"ance wheel`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>. <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Horology)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A wheel which regulates the beats or pulses of a watch or chronometer, answering to the pendulum of a clock; -- often called simply a <altname>balance</altname>.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>A ratchet-shaped scape wheel, which in some watches is acted upon by the axis of the balance wheel proper (in those watches called a <i>balance</i>).</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Mach.)</fld> <def>A wheel which imparts regularity to the movements of any engine or machine; a fly wheel.</def>

<h1>Balaniferous</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bal`a*nif"er*ous</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>balanus</ets> acorn + <ets>-ferous</ets>.]</ety> <def>Bearing or producing acorns.</def>

<h1>Balanite</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bal"a*nite</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>balanus</ets> acorn: cf. F. <ets>balanite</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Paleon.)</fld> <def>A fossil balanoid shell.</def>