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adjective
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 in midair: a bird poised in flight; a helicopter poised overhead.
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Poised
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
Example Sentences
- Now a new technique is poised to greatly speed diagnosis.
- The recent publication of the photographs of naked Indians poised to fire arrows at a low-flying aircraft electrified the world.
- But keeping poised on problem days depends so much on comfort.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
2.
a dignified, self-confident manner or bearing; composure; self-possession: to show poise in company.
3.
steadiness; stability: intellectual poise.
4.
suspense or wavering, as between rest and motion or two phases of motion: the poise of the tides.
5.
EXPANDthe way of being poised, held, or carried.
6.
COLLAPSEthe state or position of hovering: the poise of a bird in the air.
verb (used with object)
7.
to adjust, hold, or carry in equilibrium; balance evenly.
8.
to hold supported or raised, as in position for casting, using, etc.: to poise a spear.
9.
to hold or carry in a particular manner: She walked, carefully poising a water jug on her head.
10.
Obsolete. to weigh.
verb (used without object)
11.
to rest in equilibrium; be balanced.
12.
to hover, as a bird in the air.
Origin:
1350–1400; (noun) Middle English pois(e) weight < Old French (French poids) < Late Latin pēnsum, noun use of neuter past participle of Latin pendere to weigh; (v.) Middle English poisen to weigh < Old French poiser, variant, based on tonic stem, of peser < Latin pēnsāre, frequentative of pendere
1350–1400; (noun) Middle English pois(e) weight < Old French (French poids) < Late Latin pēnsum, noun use of neuter past participle of Latin pendere to weigh; (v.) Middle English poisen to weigh < Old French poiser, variant, based on tonic stem, of peser < Latin pēnsāre, frequentative of pendere
Synonyms
2. self-assurance; polish, grace, refinement.
2. self-assurance; polish, grace, refinement.
Antonyms
1, 3. instability.
1, 3. instability.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To Poised
Collins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
poise
early 15c., "weight, quality of being heavy," later "significance, importance" (mid-15c.), from O.Fr. pois "weight, balance, consideration," from M.L. pesum "weight," from L. pensum, noun use of neuter pp. of pendere "to weigh" (see pendant). The sense of "steadiness, composure"
EXPANDfirst recorded 1640s, from notion of being equally weighted on either side (1550s). The verb is first recorded late 14c., "to have a certain weight," from O.Fr. peser, from V.L. pesare, from L. pensare "to weigh carefully," freq. of pendere (pp. pensus) "to weigh." Passive sense of "to be ready" (to do something) is from 1932.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
poise (poiz, pwäz)
n.
A centimeter-gram-second unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
poise  (poiz, pwäz) Pronunciation Key
The unit of dynamic viscosity in the centimeter-gram-second system, equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter, or 0.1 pascal-seconds. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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