Poised

Poised
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. [1913 Webster]

2. To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance. [1913 Webster]

Nor yet was earth suspended in the sky; Nor poised, did on her own foundation lie. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. To counterpoise; to counterbalance. [1913 Webster]

One scale of reason to poise another of sensuality. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

To poise with solid sense a sprightly wit. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

4. To ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh. [1913 Webster]

He can not sincerely consider the strength, poise the weight, and discern the evidence. --South. [1913 Webster]

5. To weigh (down); to oppress. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow. --Shak. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • poised — [pɔızd] adj [Sense: 1 3; Date: 1600 1700; Origin: poise to weigh, balance (14 21 centuries), from Old French peser, from Latin pensare] [Sense: 4; Date: 1900 2000; Origin: POISE] 1.) [not before noun] not moving, but ready to move or do something …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • poised — [ pɔızd ] adjective 1. ) about to do or achieve something after preparing for it: The Rockets appear poised for victory in the championship game. Japan was poised to become the biggest foreign investor in Vietnam. a ) waiting in a position where… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • poised — UK US /pɔɪzd/ adjective ► [after verb] ready to do a particular thing at any moment: poised to do sth »The public pension fund is poised to invest up to $1.5 billion over the next year. »The City is poised for a major announcement on the airline… …   Financial and business terms

  • poised — poised; un·poised; …   English syllables

  • poised — [poizd] adj. 1. composed; calm; self assured 2. balanced 3. suspended, as in motion; readied [an opponent poised to strike] …   English World dictionary

  • poised — adjective 1 (not before noun) not moving but ready to move or do something at any moment (+ for/on etc): She saw Matthew poised on the board for a swift, controlled racing dive. | poised to do sth: He was waiting with the door open, poised to… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • poised — adj. VERBS ▪ appear, be, look, seem, stand ▪ She stood poised for a moment. ▪ remain ADVERB …   Collocations dictionary

  • poised — [[t]pɔ͟ɪzd[/t]] 1) ADJ If a part of your body is poised, it is completely still but ready to move at any moment. He studied the keyboard carefully, one finger poised. 2) ADJ: v link ADJ, usu ADJ to inf, ADJ for n If someone is poised to do… …   English dictionary

  • poised — UK [pɔɪzd] / US adjective 1) a) about to do or achieve something after preparing for it Liverpool appear poised for victory in the championship match. Japan was poised to become the biggest foreign investor in Vietnam. b) waiting in a position… …   English dictionary

  • poised — /poyzd/, adj. 1. (of a person) composed, dignified, and self assured. 2. being in balance or equilibrium: a balloon poised on the nose of a seal. 3. teetering or wavering: to be poised on the brink of disaster. 4. hovering or suspended in or as… …   Universalium

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