poyse

Verb

poise (third-person singular simple present poises, present participle poising, simple past and past participle poised)

1. (obsolete) To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt.
   • The slender, graceful spars / Poise aloft in the air.1850, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Seaside and the Fireside
2. (obsolete) To counterpoise; to counterbalance.
   • one scale of reason to poise another of sensualityc. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac...
3. (obsolete) To be of a given weight; to weigh.
4. (obsolete) To add weight to, to weigh down.
   • Every man poiseth [translating poise] upon his fellowes sinne, and elevates his owne.1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 2, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC
5. (archaic) To hold (something) with or against something else in equilibrium; to balance, counterpose.
   • you saw her faire none els being by, / Her selfe poysd with her selfe in either eye.c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
6. To hold (something) in equilibrium, to hold balanced and ready; to carry (something) ready to be used.
   • I poised the crowbar in my hand, and waited.

See all 17 meanings of poise