Poise Meaning
/pɔɪz/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA state of balance, equilibrium or stability.
nounComposure; freedom from embarrassment or affectation.
Sentence Examples
He has a lot of poise.
Tom has a lot of poise.
Jamin's slender figure exudes grace and poise, enhancing her overall beauty.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Despite the chaos and loud shouting around her, she maintained her graceful ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She carried herself with remarkable ____, remaining calm and composed throughout the difficult interview.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English poys, poyse, from Anglo-Norman pois, Middle French pois (“weight”) and Anglo-Norman poise, Middle French poise (“measure of weight”), from Latin pendere (“to weigh, ponder, think”). Doublet of peise.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"plants and animals, which are all made up of and nourished by water, and perhaps never return to water again, do not keep things at a poise"
— 1692, Richard Bentley, [A Confutation of Atheism] (please specify the sermon), London: [Thomas Parkhurst; Henry Mortlock], published 1692–1693:
"Letterpress and offset gloss varnishes normally have viscosities varying from 50 to 250 poises; they must stain the paper as little as possible, have insufficient tack to cause plucking, […]"
— 1959, E. A. Apps, Printing Ink Technology, page 415:
"as an huge rockie clift, / Whose false foundation waues haue washt away, / With dreadfull poyse is from the mayneland rift, / […] So downe he fell […]"
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
"As for Hyperboles, I will neither quote Lucan, nor Statius, Men of an unbounded imagination, but who often wanted the Poyze of Judgement."
— 1674 (date written), John Dryden, “The Authors Apology for Heroique Poetry; and Poetique Licence”, in The State of Innocence, and Fall of Man: An Opera. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1677, →OCLC, page 25:
"The slender, graceful spars / Poise aloft in the air."
— 1850, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Seaside and the Fireside:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Despite the chaos and loud shouting around her, she maintained her graceful ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She carried herself with remarkable ____, remaining calm and composed throughout the difficult interview.