COUNTERPOINT
Coun"ter*point` (koun"tr-point`), n. Etym: [Counter- + point.]
Defn: An opposite point [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.
COUNTERPOINT Coun"ter*point`, n. Etym: [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. Counterpoint, an invention equivalent to a new creation of music. Whewell.
COUNTERPOINT Coun"ter*point`, n. Etym: [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.]
Defn: A coverlet; a cover for a bed, often stitched or broken into squares; a counterpane. See 1st Counterpane. Embroidered coverlets or counterpoints of purple silk. Sir T. North.
COUNTERPOISE
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.
COUNTERPOISE 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.