poise

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   be motionless, in suspension

   The bird poised for a few moments before it attacked

2. 2
   noun

   A state of balance, equilibrium or stability.

   plants and animals, which are all made up of and nourished by water, and perhaps never return to water again, do not keep things at a poise

3. 3
   noun

   Weight; an amount of weight, the amount something weighs.

   as an huge rockie clift, / Whose false foundation waues haue washt away, / With dreadfull poyse is from the mayneland rift, / […] So downe he fell […]

4. 4
   noun

   That which causes a balance; a counterweight.

   As for Hyperboles, I will neither quote Lucan, nor Statius, Men of an unbounded imagination, but who often wanted the Poyze of Judgement.

5. 5
   verb

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

   The slender, graceful spars / Poise aloft in the air.

6. 6
   verb

   To counterpoise; to counterbalance.

   one scale of reason to poise another of sensuality

7. 7
   verb

   To add weight to, to weigh down.

   Every man poiseth [translating poise] upon his fellowes sinne, and elevates his owne.

8. 8
   verb

   To hold (something) with or against something else in equilibrium; to balance, counterpose.

   you saw her faire none els being by, / Her selfe poysd with her selfe in either eye.

Etymology

From Middle English poys, poyse, from Anglo-Norman pois, Middle French pois (“weight”) and Anglo-Norman poise, Middle French poise (“measure of weight”), from Latin pendere (“to weigh, ponder, think”). Doublet of peise.