What is "peise"

Poise \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.

5. a dignified and self-confident manner; graceful composure and tact in handling difficult social situations.

Poise \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.

n. 1 A weight; a poise. 2 (context obsolete English) A heavy blow, an impact. vb. 1 To weigh or measure the weight of; to poise. 2 (context figuratively English) To weigh or take the measure of (an immaterial object).