To outweigh; to overpower by weight. An inconsiderable weight, by distance from the center of the balance, will preponderate greater magnitudes.

To overpower by stronger influence or moral power.

To exceed in weight; hence, to incline or descend, as the scale of a balance. That is no just balance in which the heaviest side will not preponderate.

To exceed in influence or power; hence, to incline to one side. By putting every argument on one side and the other, into the balance, we must form a judgment which side preponderates.