poise

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A calm, confident, and graceful manner.

   She answered the difficult questions with remarkable poise.

2. 2
   noun

   A state of balance or steadiness.

   The dancer held her body in perfect poise.

3. 3
   verb

   To hold or balance something steadily, often ready to move.

   The cat poised itself, ready to pounce on the mouse.

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.

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