poise

¹

[ poiz ]

noun

1. a dignified, self-confident manner or bearing; composure; self-possession:

   to show poise in company.

   Synonyms: refinement, grace, polish, self-confidence

2. steadiness; stability:

   intellectual poise.

   Antonyms: instability

3. a state of balance or equilibrium, as from equality or equal distribution of weight; equipoise.

   Antonyms: imbalance, disequilibrium

4. suspense or wavering, as between rest and motion or two phases of motion:

   the poise of the tides.

5. the way of being poised, held, or carried.
6. the state or position of hovering:

   the poise of a bird in the air.

verb (used with object)

, poised, pois·ing.

1. to adjust, hold, or carry in equilibrium; balance evenly.
2. to hold supported or raised, as in position for casting, using, etc.:

   to poise a spear.

3. to hold or carry in a particular manner:

   She walked, carefully poising a water jug on her head.

4. to put (a person or thing) in a state or position of readiness or preparedness: The mayor is credited with poising the city for impressive growth and development.

   He has poised himself to succeed.

   The mayor is credited with poising the city for impressive growth and development.

5. Obsolete. to weigh.

verb (used without object)

, poised, pois·ing.

1. to rest in equilibrium; be balanced.
2. to hover, as a bird in the air.

poise

²

[ pwahz ]

noun

, Physics.

1. a centimeter-gram-second unit of viscosity, equal to the viscosity of a fluid in which a stress of one dyne per square centimeter is required to maintain a difference of velocity of one centimeter per second between two parallel planes in the fluid that lie in the direction of flow and are separated by a distance of one centimeter. : P

poise

¹

/ pɔɪz /

noun

1. composure or dignity of manner
2. physical balance or assurance in movement or bearing
3. the state of being balanced or stable; equilibrium; stability
4. the position of hovering
5. suspense or indecision

verb

1. to be or cause to be balanced or suspended
2. tr to hold, as in readiness

   to poise a lance

3. See weigh
   tr a rare word for weigh 1

poise

²

/ pɔɪz; pwɑːz /

noun

1. the cgs unit of viscosity; the viscosity of a fluid in which a tangential force of 1 dyne per square centimetre maintains a difference in velocity of 1 centimetre per second between two parallel planes 1 centimetre apart. It is equivalent to 0.1 newton second per square metre P

poise

/ poiz,pwäz /

1. The unit of dynamic viscosity in the centimeter-gram-second system, equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter, or 0.1 pascal-seconds.

Word History and Origins

Origin of poise¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun pois(e) “weight,” from Old French ( French poids ), from Late Latin pēnsum, noun use of neuter past participle of Latin pendere “to weigh”; Middle English verb poisen “to weigh,” from Old French poiser, variant, based on tonic stem, of peser, from Latin pēnsāre, frequentative of pendere

Origin of poise²

First recorded in 1910–15; from French; named after Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille (1799–1869), French physician

Word History and Origins

Origin of poise¹

C16: from Old French pois weight, from Latin pēnsum, from pendere to weigh

Origin of poise²

C20: named after Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille (1799–1869), French physician

Example Sentences

Now known as “Sir” to his students, Rohit, 49, is tall and dark-complexioned, with a firm yet calm poise.

From Ozy

The preteen Miss Thang has matured into a grown woman full of poise and compassion.

From Essence.com

Denver Coach Vic Fangio is known for exotic schemes and blitzes, and he made Tagovailoa, who had been defined by his poise and decisiveness, look like an uncertain rookie.

From Washington Post

He completed 20 of 28 passes for 248 yards, throwing with poise and precision.

From Washington Post

What’s more, this compact crossover has been fully redesigned, with all the poise and pluck of a Porsche Macan.

From Washington Blade

Endowing the feverish, PR-patrolled world of presidential politics with thoughtfulness and poise—now that would be radical.

From The Daily Beast

Zaks had to find the delicate poise between vivid restating and slavish reenactment.

From The Daily Beast

This was the world of Gustave H. our narrator assumes, one of refinement, poise, and impeccable service.

From The Daily Beast

And Rush Limbaugh only served to help turn her into a model of responsible activism, engagement, and political poise.

From The Daily Beast

She's handled her transition from reality TV star to the real world with grace and poise.

From The Daily Beast

She was a woman of too much natural and acquired poise to remain askew under any shock.

From Project Gutenberg

The Hindu walks with a great deal of poise, in fact, very much like an elephant, but he also has the agility of the panther.

From Project Gutenberg

He slowed down the car, but Miss Scovill sat upright and recovered her mental poise, though with evident effort.

From Project Gutenberg

The whole figure had the poise and lightness of a vision; yet in the face an exquisite human tenderness smiled out.

From Project Gutenberg

Splendid was the emir in form and face, with broad shoulders and lordly height and poise.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hover
• wait