\Poise\, n. [OE. pois, peis, OF. pois, peis, F. poids, fr.
L. pensum a portion weighed out, pendere to weigh, weigh out.
Cf. {Avoirdupois}, {Pendant}, {Poise}, v.] [Formerly written
also {peise}.]
1. Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend;
   heaviness. ``Weights of an extraordinary poise.''
   --Evelyn.
2. The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance
   the substance weighed.
3. The state of being balanced by equal weight or power;
   equipoise; balance; equilibrium; rest. --Bentley.
4. That which causes a balance; a counterweight.
         Men of unbounded imagination often want the poise of
         judgment.                             --Dryden.

\Poise\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Poised}, ; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Poising}.] [OE. poisen, peisen, OF. & F. peser, to weigh,
balance, OF. il peise, il poise, he weighs, F. il p[`e]se,
fr. L. pensare, v. intens. fr. pendere to weigh. See {Poise},
n., and cf. {Pensive}.] [Formerly written also {peise}.]
1. To balance; to make of equal weight; as, to poise the
   scales of a balance.
2. To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance.
         Nor yet was earth suspended in the sky; Nor poised,
         did on her own foundation lie.        --Dryden.
3. To counterpoise; to counterbalance.
         One scale of reason to poise another of sensuality.
                                               --Shak.
         To poise with solid sense a sprightly wit. --Dryden.
4. To ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh.
         He can not sincerely consider the strength, poise
         the weight, and discern the evidence. --South.
5. To weigh (down); to oppress. [Obs.]
         Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow. --Shak.

\Poise\, v. i.
To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence,
to be in suspense or doubt.
      The slender, graceful spars Poise aloft in air.
                                               --Longfellow.