a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) v. sig. Qq5 But when they did set it to the beame..they could not but yeeld in their hartes, there was no ouerbalancing.

1649 Εἰκων Βασιλικη i By the weight of Reason I should counterpoize the over-ballancings of any factions.

1865 Proc. Royal Soc. 14 23 The true drops and bubbles..grow until their exact equilibrium is established, and they acquire their definite size at the instant of the overbalancing of that equilibrium.

1896 A. C. Benson Essays 241 When the overbalancing of enthusiasm is not forgiven, a deep and provoking wonder grows gradually up as to what standpoint such a critic has reached that such judgments should be possible.

1900 Ld. Rosebery Napoleon xvi. 240 At what precise period the overbalancing of this great intellect took place it is of course impossible to say.

1968 K. Burke Counter-Statement 25 [He] had at last slipped against life and been forced to suffer the overbalancing of his intellect by his emotions.

2000 Kirkus Rev. (Nexis) 1 May He details the downsides (or at least the overbalancing of cons to pros) of dams, irrigation,..and microclimate changes.

1623 G. Fletcher Reward of Faithful 401 His Church..enioynes euery one eleuen moneths residence vpon his cure..he that does the contrary without any ouer-ballancing reason, prooues himselfe a Bastard, and none of hir Children.

?c1663 B. Whitelocke Diary (1990) 81 Letters from the Doctor gave him great joy and comfort, in the beginning.., but there followed an over Ballancing weight of sorrow in the end of them.

1719 W. Wood Surv. Trade (ed. 2) 85 Unless the Goods we import from an over-balancing Country be Re-exported.

1805 J. Foster Ess. i. iii. 32 A gigantic and overbalancing strength.

1830 C. Bridges Christian Ministry (ed. 2) v. iv. 511 It must be viewed as a scheme of doubtful expediency, of uncertain prospect of usefulness, or even of probable and overbalancing evil.

1865 S. H. Hodgson Time & Space iv. 245 If it is said that some people may have the representation and not feel the aversion, the answer is that, if so, it will be in consequence of their having a representation of some overbalancing benefit, as for instance of a release from suffering by death.

1908 G. L. Raymond Psychol. of Inspiration xii. 272 We must not forget the overbalancing influence..of the preacher, or officiator.

1954 H. W. Belmore Rilke's Craftsmanship 217 The..whole poem..is typical of the overbalancing intellectuality so often encountered in these pieces.

2002 Daily Mail (Nexis) 2 Aug. 87 His younger brother..almost impaled himself with one throw which speared the ground a few metres in front of his overbalancing body.