Poise — Defs

01 n. Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend; heaviness.

1.
Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend; heaviness.
2.
The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance the substance weighed.
3.
The state of being balanced by equal weight or power; equipoise; balance; equilibrium; rest.
4.
That which causes a balance; a counterweight.
“Men of unbounded imagination often want the poise of judgment.” — Dryden.
5.
a dignified and self-confident manner; graceful composure and tact in handling difficult social situations.

02 v. t. To balance; to make of equal weight; as, to poise the scales of a balance.

imp. & p. p. Poised; p. pr. & vb. n. Poising

1.
To balance; to make of equal weight; as, to poise the scales of a balance.
2.
To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance.
“Nor yet was earth suspended in the sky; Nor poised, did on her own foundation lie.” — Dryden.
3.
To counterpoise; to counterbalance.
“One scale of reason to poise another of sensuality.” — Shak.

“To poise with solid sense a sprightly wit.” — Dryden.
4.
To ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh.
“He can not sincerely consider the strength, poise the weight, and discern the evidence.” — South.
5.
To weigh (down); to oppress.[Obs.]
“Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow.” — Shak.

03 v. i. To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt.

1.
To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt.
“The slender, graceful spars Poise aloft in air.” — Longfellow.