Poise (?), n. [OE. pois, peis, OF. pois, peis, F. poids, fr. L. pensum a portion weighed out, pendere to weigh, weigh out. Cf. Avoirdupois, Pendant, Poise, v.] [Formerly written also peise.]
1.
Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend; heaviness.
"Weights of an extraordinary
poise."
Evelyn.
<-- Obsolete? -->
2.
The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance the substance weighed.
3.
The state of being balanced by equal weight or power; equipoise; balance; equilibrium; rest.
Bentley.
4.
That which causes a balance; a counterweight.
Men of unbounded imagination often want the poise of judgment.
Dryden.
© Webster 1913.
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 pese, 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.
2.
To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance.
Nor yet was earth suspended in the sky;
Nor poised, did on her own foundation lie.
Dryden.
3.
To counterpoise; to counterbalance.
One scale of reason to poise another of sensuality.
Shak.
To poise with solid sense a sprightly wit.
Dryden.
4.
To ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh.
He can not sincerely consider the strength, poise the weight, and discern the evidence.
South.
5.
To weigh (down); to oppress.
[Obs.]
Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Poise, v. i.
To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt.
The slender, graceful spars
Poise aloft in air.
Longfellow.
© Webster 1913.