poise

¹poise

verb \ˈpȯiz\

poisedpois·ing

Definition of POISE

transitive verb

1

a : balance; especially : to hold or carry in equilibrium <carried a water jar poised on her head> b : to hold supported or suspended without motion in a steady position <poised her fork and gave her guest a knowing look — Louis Bromfield>

2

: to hold or carry (the head) in a particular way

3

: to put into readiness : brace

intransitive verb

1

: to become drawn up into readiness

2

: hover

Examples of POISE

1. She poised her pencil above the paper and waited for the signal to begin writing.
2. <the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference>

Origin of POISE

Middle English, to weigh, ponder, from Anglo-French peiser, poiser, from Latin pensare — more at pensive

First Known Use: 1598

Related to POISE

Synonyms: brace, forearm, nerve, fortify, psych (up), ready, steel, strengthen

Antonyms: settle, sink

Related Words: arm; harden, inure, season, toughen; bolster, boost, buoy (up), buttress, enforce, prop (up), reinforce (also reenforce), support, sustain; cheer (up), comfort, embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire; rally, rouse, stir

Near Antonyms: daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, psych (out), shake, unnerve; debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, prostrate, sap, soften, tire, undercut, undermine, weaken

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Rhymes with POISE

hoise, noise, Noyes