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poise

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Poise is defined as self-assurance, calm, grace and dignity.

(noun)

An example of poise is the nature of a ballerina.

See poise in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

balance; stability
ease and dignity of manner; self-assurance; composure
the condition of being calm or serene
carriage; bearing, as of the body or head
Now Rare
1. a suspension of activity in a condition of balance
2. suspense; irresolution; indecision

Origin: ME pois, weight < OFr < VL *pesum < L pensum, something weighed < pendere, to weigh: see pendant

transitive verb poised, poising

to balance; keep steady
to suspend: usually passive or reflexive
Rare to weigh

Origin: ME poisen < OFr poiser < peise, inflected form of peser, to weigh < VL pesare < L pensare, to weigh out < pensus, pp. of pendere

intransitive verb

to be suspended or balanced
to hover

noun

the basic unit of viscosity of a fluid in the CGS system, equal to the force measured in dynes per square centimeter needed to maintain a difference in velocity of one centimeter per second between two parallel planes of a fluid separated by one centimeter (0.1 pascal second): abbrev. P

Origin: Fr, after J. L. M. Poiseuille (1799-1869), Fr anatomist

See poise in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb poised poised, pois·ing, pois·es

verb, transitive

To carry or hold in equilibrium; balance.

verb, intransitive

To be balanced or held in suspension; hover.

noun