preponderance

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See also: prépondérance

English

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Etymology

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From preponderant +‎ -ance.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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preponderance (countable and uncountable, plural preponderances)

  1. (obsolete) Greater physical weight.
    Synonym: (obsolete) preponderancy
    1. (specifically, weaponry, historical) The excess of weight of that part of a cannon behind the trunnions over that in front of them.
  2. Superiority in amount or number; the bulk or majority; also, a large amount or number; an abundance, a profusion.
    Synonym: (obsolete) preponderancy
    • 1857, R[obert] Harries Jones, “Part the Second”, in The Japhetic Races. A Historical and Ethnological Inquiry into the Consanguinity of Various European Races. [], Göttingen: Printed at the University Press by W. Fr. Kaestner, →OCLC, section II, page 36:
      [S]trong proofs are at hand to shew, that in the Irish people there is a large admixture, if not an overwhelming praeponderance, of Iberian elements.
    • 1997 August 17, Patricia Holt, “Just add sand; trash fiction for end-of-the summer beach reading”, in San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, Calif.: Hearst Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 1:
      Is there a preponderance of female protagonists in commercial fiction, and if so, what does it mean?
    • 2000 April 17, Paul Van Slambrouck, “California’s brightest star is, well, gray”, in The Christian Science Monitor[1], Boston, Mass.: Christian Science Publishing Society, →ISSN, →OCLC:
      Subtle, institutional discrimination was evident in the preponderance of blacks and underprivileged whites fighting the war.
  3. Superiority of influence, power, a quality, etc.; an outweighing, predominance, pre-eminence.
    Synonyms: (obsolete) preponderancy, preponderation

Alternative forms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Further reading

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