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Definition of preponderate - 4 dictionary results

pre⋅pon⋅der⋅ate

  [pri-pon-duh-reyt]
Use preponderate in a Sentence
–verb (used without object), -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.
1. to exceed something else in weight; be the heavier.
2. to incline downward or descend, as one scale or end of a balance, because of greater weight; be weighed down.
3. to be superior in power, force, influence, number, amount, etc.; predominate: Evidence for the accused preponderated at the trial.
Origin:
1615–25; < L praeponderātus, ptp. of praeponderāre to outweigh. See pre-, ponder, -ate 1

Related forms:
pre⋅pon⋅der⋅a⋅tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To preponderate
pre·pon·der·ate   (prĭ-pŏn'də-rāt')   
intr.v.   pre·pon·der·at·ed, pre·pon·der·at·ing, pre·pon·der·ates

  1. To exceed something else in weight.

  2. To be greater than something else, as in power, force, quantity, or importance; predominate: "In balancing his faults with his perfections, the latter seemed rather to preponderate" (Henry Fielding).

adj.   (-dər-ĭt)
Preponderant.

[Latin praeponderāre, praeponderāt- : prae-, pre- + ponderāre, to weigh; see (s)pen- in Indo-European roots.]
pre·pon'der·ate·ly adv., pre·pon'der·a'tion n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

preponderate 
1623, "to weigh more than," from L. præponderare "outweigh," from præ- "before" + ponderare "to weigh" (see pound (n.1)). Meaning "to exceed in force or power" is from 1799. Preponderance is first recorded 1681, meaning "greater weight;" sense of "greater importance" is from 1780; that of "greater number" is from 1845.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: pre·pon·der·ate
Pronunciation: pri-'pän-d&-"rAt
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Forms: -at·ed; -at·ing
: to have greater credibility or convincing weight : have an outweighing effect preponderated in favor of the state —Weston v. State, 682 Pacific Reporter, Second Series 1119 (1984)> preponderates against the board's decision>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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