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   poise

   /pɔɪz/

   noun

   • 1. graceful and elegant bearing in a person: "poise and good deportment can be cultivated" Similar balanceequilibriumcontrolgracegracefulnesspresence
   • ▪ composure and dignity of manner: "at least he had a moment to think, to recover his poise" Similar composureequanimityself-possessionaplombpresence of mindassuranceself-assuranceself-controlnervecalmnesscoolnesssangfroidcountenancecollectednessserenitydignityimperturbabilitysuavenessurbanityeleganceinformal:coolunflappability
   • 2. balance; equilibrium: archaic "the balance has passed the point where the spring is in poise"

   verb

   • 1. be or cause to be balanced or suspended: "he poised motionless on his toes" Similar balancehold (oneself) steadysteady oneselfbe suspendedhang suspendedremain motionlesshang in mid-airhanghover
   • ▪ be ready and prepared to do something: "teachers are poised to resume their attack on government school tests" Similar position oneselfready oneselfprepare oneselfbrace oneselfget into positiongear oneself upstand bybalancesteady

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘weight’): from Old French pois, peis (noun), peser (verb), from an alteration of Latin pensum ‘weight’, from the verb pendere ‘weigh’. From the early senses of ‘weight’ and ‘measure of weight’ arose the notion of ‘equal weight, balance’, leading to the extended senses ‘composure’ and ‘elegant bearing’.

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • P

     3

   • O

     1

   • I

     1

   • S

     1

   • E

     1

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