DEFINITION
POISE:
• (v.) Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend;
heaviness.
• (v.) The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance
the substance weighed.
• (v.) The state of being balanced by equal weight or power;
equipoise; balance; equilibrium; rest.
• (v.) That which causes a balance; a counterweight.
• (n.) To balance; to make of equal weight; as, to poise the scales
of a balance.
• (n.) To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance.
• (n.) To counterpoise; to counterbalance.
• (n.) To ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh.
• (n.) To weigh (down); to oppress.
• (v. i.) To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended;
hence, to be in suspense or doubt.