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 pèse, 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance. [ 1913 Webster ] Nor yet was earth suspended in the sky;
Nor poised, did on her own foundation lie. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. To counterpoise; to counterbalance. [ 1913 Webster ] One scale of reason to poise another of sensuality. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] To poise with solid sense a sprightly wit. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. To ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh. [ 1913 Webster ] He can not sincerely consider the strength, poise the weight, and discern the evidence. South. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. To weigh (down); to oppress. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] | 
