Added 9 October 2026
poise
/pɔɪz/ noun
Latin root: pendere Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about poise at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A state of balance, equilibrium or stability.
- Composure; freedom from embarrassment or affectation.
- Mien; bearing or deportment of the head or body.
verb
- 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. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
noun
Origin
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 pendere (“to weigh, ponder, think”). Doublet of peise.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)