Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend; heaviness. "Weights of an extraordinary poise." Evelyn.
The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance the substance weighed.
The state of being balanced by equal weight or power; equipoise; balance; equilibrium; rest. Bentley.
That which causes a balance; a counterweight. Men of unbounded imagination often want the poise of judgment. Dryden.
To balance; to make of equal weight; as, to poise the scales of a balance.
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.
To counterpoise; to counterbalance. One scale of reason to poise another of sensuality. Shak. To poise with solid sense a sprightly wit. Dryden.
To ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh. He can not sincerely consider the strength, poise the weight, and discern the evidence. South.
To weigh (down); to oppress. [Obs.] Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow. Shak.
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.
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