Adjacent Words

Poise definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

POISE, n. poiz.
1. Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend or tend to the center.
2. The weight or mass of metal used in weighing with steelyards, to balance the substance weighed.
3. Balance; equilibrium; a state in which things are balanced by equal weight or power; equipoise. The mind may rest in a poise between two opinions.
The particles forming the earth, must convene from all quarters towards the middle, which would make the whole compound rest in a poise.
4. A regulating power; that which balances.
Men of an unbounded imagination often want the poise of judgment.
POISE, v.t. poiz.
1. To balance in weight; to make of equal weight; as, to poise the scales of a balance.
2. To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance.
Our nation with united interest blest,
Not now content to poise, shall sway the rest.
3. To load with weight for balancing.
Where could they find another form so fit,
To poise with solid sense a sprightly wit?
4. To examine or ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh.
He cannot consider the strength, poise the weight, and discern the evidence of the clearest argumentations, where they would conclude against his desires.
5. To oppress; to weigh down.
Lest leaden slumber poise me down to-morrow,
When I should mount on wings of victory.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a cgs unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter; the viscosity of a fluid in which a force of one dyne per square centimeter maintains a velocity of 1 centimeter per second
2: a state of being balanced in a stable equilibrium
3: great coolness and composure under strain; "keep your cool" [syn: aplomb, assuredness, cool, poise, sang-froid] v
1: be motionless, in suspension; "The bird poised for a few moments before it attacked"
2: prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult [syn: brace, poise]
3: cause to be balanced or suspended
4: hold or carry in equilibrium [syn: poise, balance]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (poised; poising) Etymology: Middle English, to weigh, ponder, from Anglo-French peiser, poiser, from Latin pensare — more at pensive Date: 1598 transitive verb 1. a. balance; especially to hold or carry in equilibrium <carried a water jar poised on her head> b. to hold supported or suspended without motion in a steady position <poised her fork and gave her guest a knowing look — Louis Bromfield> 2. to hold or carry (the head) in a particular way 3. to put into readiness ; brace intransitive verb 1. to become drawn up into readiness 2. hover II. noun Etymology: Middle English poyse weight, heaviness, from Anglo-French peis, pois, from Latin pensum, from neuter of pensus, past participle of pendere to weigh — more at pendant Date: 1649 1. a stably balanced state ; equilibrium <a poise between widely divergent impulses — F. R. Leavis> 2. a. easy self-possessed assurance of manner ; gracious tact in coping or handling; also the pleasantly tranquil interaction between persons of poise <no angry outbursts marred the poise of the meeting> b. a particular way of carrying oneself ; bearing, carriage Synonyms: see tact III. noun Etymology: French, from Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille died 1869 French physician and anatomist Date: 1913 a centimeter-gram-second unit of viscosity equal to the viscosity of a fluid that would require a shearing force of one dyne to impart to a one-square-centimeter area of an arbitrary layer of the fluid a velocity of one centimeter per second relative to another layer separated from the first by a distance of one centimeter

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. 1 composure or self-possession of manner. 2 equilibrium; a stable state. 3 carriage (of the head etc.). --v. 1 tr. balance; hold suspended or supported. 2 tr. carry (one's head etc. in a specified way). 3 intr. be balanced; hover in the air etc. Etymology: ME f. OF pois, peis, peser ult. f. L pensum weight f. pendere pens- weigh 2. n. Physics a unit of dynamic viscosity, such that a tangential force of one dyne per square centimetre causes a velocity change one centimetre per second between two parallel planes in a liquid separated by one centimetre. Etymology: J. L. M. Poiseuille, Fr. physician d. 1869

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Poise Poise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Poised, ; p. pr. & vb. n. Poising.] [OE. poisen, peisen, OF. & F. peser, to weigh, balance, OF. il peise, il poise, he weighs, F. il p[`e]se, fr. L. pensare, v. intens. fr. pendere to weigh. See Poise, n., and cf. Pensive.] [Formerly written also peise.] 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Poise Poise, n. [OE. pois, peis, OF. pois, peis, F. poids, fr. L. pensum a portion weighed out, pendere to weigh, weigh out. Cf. Avoirdupois, Pendant, Poise, v.] [Formerly written also peise.] 1. Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend; heaviness. ``Weights of an extraordinary poise.'' --Evelyn.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Poise Poise, v. i. 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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. If someone has poise, they are calm, dignified, and self-controlled. It took a moment for Mark to recover his poise. N-UNCOUNT: oft poss N 2. Poise is a graceful, very controlled way of standing and moving. Ballet classes are important for poise and grace...

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Weight, gravity. 2. Counterweight, counterpoise. 3. Regulating power, balance. 4. Balance, equilibrium, equipoise. II. v. a. 1. Balance, hold or place in equilibrium. 2. Weight.

Moby Thesaurus

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