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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Poise

Poise, n.

noun

n. [Formerly written also peise.] [O. Fr. pois, peis, pes, Pr. pes, pens, Sp., Pg., & It. peso, from Lat. pensum, a portion weighed out, from pendere, to weigh, weigh out; N. Fr. poids, from Lat. pondus, a weight.]

  1. Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend or tend to the center. “Weights of an extraordinary poise.” Evelyn.
  2. The weight or mass of metal used in weighing with steelyards, to balance the substance weighed.
  3. A state in which things are balanced by equal weight or power; equipoise; balance; equilibrium.

The particles forming the earth must convene from all quarters toward the middle, which would make the whole compound rest in a poise. Bentley. 4. A regulating power; that which balances. Men of an unbounded imagination often want the poise of judgment. Dryden. 5. A thing suspended on a poise, or in a balanced state. Derham.

Poise, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. POISED; p. pr. & vb. n. POISING.] [Written also peise.] [O. Fr. peiser, peser, Pr., Sp., & Pg. pesar, It. pesare, Lat. pensare, v. intens. from pendere, to weigh. See supra.]

Sense 1. To balance in weight; to make of equal weight; as, to poise the scales of a balance.

Sense 2. To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance.

Our nation, with united interest blest, Not now content to poise, shall sway the rest. Dryden.

Sense 3. To load with weight for balancing.

Where could they find another form so fit To poise with solid sense a sprightly wit? Dryden.

Sense 4. To examine or ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh.

He can not consider the strength, poise the weight, and discern the evidence of the clearest argumentations, where they would conclude against his desires. South.

Sense 5. To oppress; to weigh down.

Lest leaden slumber poise me down to-morrow, When I should mount on wings of victory. Shak.