Lewis & Short

prae-pondĕro, āre, v. n. and a.

  1. I. Neutr., to be of greater weight, to preponderate, incline (post-Aug.; cf. propendeo).
    1. A. Lit.: ne, portionum aequitate turbatā, mundus praeponderet, Sen. Q. N. 3, 10, 3: quotiens in alterum latus praeponderans declinarat sarcina, App. M. 7, 17.
    2. B. Trop.
      1. 1. To be of more weight or influence, to have the preference: aliquis reum me defendit, sed uxorem meam violavit … in comparatione beneficii praeponderavit injuria, Sen. Ben. 6, 4, 1: quamvis injuriae praeponderent, id. Ep. 81, 4: honestas praeponderat, Gell. 1, 3, 25: exsul, Stat. Th. 8, 615.
      2. 2. To turn the scale, give a decision, incline: in humaniorem partem, Sen. Clem. 1, 2, 2: si neutro litis condicio praeponderet, decides neither one way nor the other, Quint. 7, 2, 39: quo praeponderet alea fati, Luc. 6, 603.
      3. 3. Absol., to show preference, to act with partiality: inter duos liberos pari desperatione languentes, da bonum patrem, non praeponderabit, Quint. Decl. 8, 9; cf.: neutrum, si in neutram partem praeponderet, inclines, Varr. L. L. 10, § 5 Müll.
  2. II. Act., to outweigh (class.): qui omnia metiuntur emolumentis et commodis, neque ea volunt praeponderari honestate, to be surpassed, Cic. Off. 3, 4, 18.