/ pɔɪz; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun [ U ]
1.
a calm and confident manner with control of your feelings or behaviour
2.
the ability to move or stand in an elegant way with good control of your body
■ verb
to be or hold sth steady in a particular position, especially above sth else :
[ v + adv. / prep. ]
The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop.
[ vn to inf ]
He was poising himself to launch a final attack.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ]
She poised the javelin in her hand before the throw.
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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 .