*poise*

adv. [ Pref. a- + poise. ] Balanced. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Counterpoised p. pr. & vb. n. Counterpoising. ] [ OE. countrepesen, counterpeisen, F. contrepeser. See Counter, adv., and Poise, v. t. ] 1. To act against with equal weight; to equal in weight; to balance the weight of; to counterbalance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Weights, counterpoising one another. Sir K. Digby. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To act against with equal power; to balance. [ 1913 Webster ]

So many freeholders of English will be able to beard and counterpoise the rest. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. countrepese, OF. contrepois, F. contrepods. See Counter, adv., and Poise, n. ] 1. A weight sufficient to balance another, as in the opposite scale of a balance; an equal weight. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fastening that to our exact balance, we put a metalline counterpoise into the opposite scale. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An equal power or force acting in opposition; a force sufficient to balance another force. [ 1913 Webster ]

The second nobles are a counterpoise to the higher nobility, that they grow not too potent. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The relation of two weights or forces which balance each other; equilibrium; equiponderance. [ 1913 Webster ]

The pendulous round eart, with balanced air,
In counterpoise. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Equi- + poise. ] 1. Equality of weight or force; hence, equilibrium; a state in which the two ends or sides of a thing are balanced, and hence equal; state of being equally balanced; -- said of moral, political, or social interests or forces. [ 1913 Webster ]

The means of preserving the equipoise and the tranquillity of the commonwealth. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our little lives are kept in equipoise
By opposite attractions and desires. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Counterpoise. [ 1913 Webster ]

The equipoise to the clergy being removed. Buckle.

v. t. To outweigh. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To outweigh; to overbalance. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Preponderant weight; a counterbalance. [ R. ] Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance the substance weighed. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The state of being balanced by equal weight or power; equipoise; balance; equilibrium; rest. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which causes a balance; a counterweight. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men of unbounded imagination often want the poise of judgment. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

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

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 pèse, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor yet was earth suspended in the sky;
Nor poised, did on her own foundation lie. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To counterpoise; to counterbalance. [ 1913 Webster ]

One scale of reason to poise another of sensuality. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To poise with solid sense a sprightly wit. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

He can not sincerely consider the strength, poise the weight, and discern the evidence. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To weigh (down); to oppress. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt. [ 1913 Webster ]

The slender, graceful spars
Poise aloft in air. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The balancer of dipterous insects. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. porpeys, OF. porpeis, literally, hog fish, from L. porcus swine + piscis fish. See Pork, and Fish. ] 1. (Zool.) Any small cetacean of the genus Phocæna, especially Phocæna communis, or Phocæna phocæna, of Europe, and the closely allied American species (Phocæna Americana). The color is dusky or blackish above, paler beneath. They are closely allied to the dolphins, but have a shorter snout. Called also harbor porpoise, herring hag, puffing pig, and snuffer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A true dolphin (Delphinus); -- often so called by sailors. [ 1913 Webster ]

Skunk porpoise, or
Bay porpoise (Zool.), a North American porpoise (Lagenorhynchus acutus), larger than the common species, and with broad stripes of white and yellow on the sides. See Illustration in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To weigh, estimate, or rate below desert; to undervalue. [ R. ] Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Not poised or balanced. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not poised or weighed; hence, regardless of consequences; unhesitating. [ Obs. ] Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]