n. [ F. contrepoint; cf. It. contrappunto. Cf. Contrapuntal. ] (Mus.) (a) The setting of note against note in harmony; the adding of one or more parts to a given canto fermo or melody. (b) The art of polyphony, or composite melody, i. e., melody not single, but moving attended by one or more related melodies. (c) Music in parts; part writing; harmony; polyphonic music. See Polyphony. [ 1913 Webster ]

Counterpoint, an invention equivalent to a new creation of music. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Counter- + point. ] An opposite point [ Obs. ] Sir E. Sandys. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. contrepoincte, corruption of earlier counstepointe, countepointe, F. courtepointe, fr. L. culcita cushion, mattress (see Quilt, and cf. Cushion) + puncta, fem. p. p. of pungere to prick (see Point). The word properly meant a stitched quilt, with the colors broken one into another. ] A coverlet; a cover for a bed, often stitched or broken into squares; a counterpane. See 1st Counterpane. [ 1913 Webster ]

Embroidered coverlets or counterpoints of purple silk. Sir T. North. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Counterpoised p. pr. & vb. n. Counterpoising. ] [ OE. countrepesen, counterpeisen, F. contrepeser. See Counter, adv., and Poise, v. t. ] 1. To act against with equal weight; to equal in weight; to balance the weight of; to counterbalance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Weights, counterpoising one another. Sir K. Digby. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To act against with equal power; to balance. [ 1913 Webster ]

So many freeholders of English will be able to beard and counterpoise the rest. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fastening that to our exact balance, we put a metalline counterpoise into the opposite scale. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An equal power or force acting in opposition; a force sufficient to balance another force. [ 1913 Webster ]

The second nobles are a counterpoise to the higher nobility, that they grow not too potent. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The relation of two weights or forces which balance each other; equilibrium; equiponderance. [ 1913 Webster ]

The pendulous round eart, with balanced air,
In counterpoise. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]