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Definition of poised - 7 dictionary results

poised

  [poizd]
Use poised in a Sentence
–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.
Origin:
1635–45; poise 1 + -ed 2 , -ed 3

poise

1  [poiz] noun, verb, poised, pois⋅ing.
–noun
1. a state of balance or equilibrium, as from equality or equal distribution of weight; equipoise.
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. 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)
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; (n.) ME pois(e) weight < OF (F poids) < LL pēnsum, n. use of neut. ptp. of L pendere to weigh; (v.) ME poisen to weigh < OF poiser, var., based on tonic s., of peser < L pēnsāre, freq. of pendere

Synonyms:
2. self-assurance; polish, grace, refinement.

Antonyms:
1, 3. instability.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To poised
poise 1   (poiz)   
v.   poised, pois·ing, pois·es

v.   tr.
To carry or hold in equilibrium; balance.
v.   intr.
To be balanced or held in suspension; hover.
n.  

  1. A state of balance or equilibrium; stability.

  2. Freedom from affectation or embarrassment; composure.

  3. The bearing or deportment of the head or body; mien.

  4. A state or condition of hovering or being suspended.


[Middle English poisen, to balance, weigh, from Old French peser, pois-, from Vulgar Latin *pēsāre, from Latin pēnsāre; see (s)pen- in Indo-European roots.]
poised   (poizd)   
adj.  

  1. Assured; composed.

  2. Held balanced or steady in readiness: stood poised for the jump.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

poise  (n.)
1421, "weight, quality of being heavy," later "significance, importance" (1457), 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" first recorded 1649, from notion of being equally weighted on either side (1555). The verb is first recorded 1389, "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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: poise
Pronunciation: 'poiz, 'pwäz
Function: noun
: a cgs unit of viscosity equal to the viscosity of a fluid that would require a shearingforce of one dyne to impart to a one square-centimeter area of an arbitrary layer of the fluid a velocity of one centimeter per second relative to another layer separated from the first by a distanceof one centimeter
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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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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