poise

Meanings

A state of balance, equilibrium or stability.
Composure; freedom from embarrassment or affectation.
Mien; bearing or deportment of the head or body.
A condition of hovering, or being suspended.
A CGS unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimetre.
Weight; an amount of weight, the amount something weighs.
The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance the substance weighed.
That which causes a balance; a counterweight.

To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt.
To counterpoise; to counterbalance.
To be of a given weight; to weigh.
To add weight to, to weigh down.
To hold (something) with or against something else in equilibrium; to balance, counterpose.
To hold (something) in equilibrium, to hold balanced and ready; to carry (something) ready to be used.
To keep (something) in equilibrium; to hold suspended or balanced.
To ascertain, as if by balancing; to weigh.

From Middle English poys, poyse, from Anglo-Norman pois, Middle French pois ("weight") and Anglo-Norman poise, Middle French poise ("measure of weight"), from Latin pēnsāre ("to ponder, weight, think").

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