Poise /(?)/

1. Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend; heaviness.
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.
4. That which causes a balance; a counterweight.

   Men of unbounded imagination often want the poise of judgment.

5. a dignified and self-confident manner; graceful composure and tact in handling difficult social situations.

imp. & p. p. Poised; p. pr. & vb. n. Poising

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.

3. To counterpoise; to counterbalance.

   One scale of reason to poise another of sensuality.

   To poise with solid sense a sprightly wit.

4. To ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh.

   He can not sincerely consider the strength, poise the weight, and discern the evidence.

5. To weigh (down); to oppress. [Obs.]

   Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow.

1. To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt.

   The slender, graceful spars Poise aloft in air.