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Make Your Point > Archived Issues > POISE

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pronounce POISE:


Say it "POYZ."

To hear it, click here.

connect this word to others:

As we check out the word poise, which literally means "weight," see if you can recall a closely related word:

E___poise is an equal distribution of weight, or more generally, a state of balance. Check out how Laura Cumming uses it to describe a painting: "Everything is held still and in perfect e___poise – the sky above, the river below, the bridge a pale platonic ideal over the silver water." Lovely, right? However, as we explore poise, you might start to think of e___poise as redundant. And you might decide to stick with just poise instead.

(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) 

definition:

The word "poise" came through French on its way from Latin. You can trace it back to the Latin pensum, meaning "a thing that's weighed." 

In English, "poise" first meant "weight," then also "heaviness," "importance," and "balance." 

Today, it's most often a synonym for "composure" and "dignity." That is, if someone has poise, they have a sense of calm grace or confidence, as if their body or mind is perfectly weighted or perfectly balanced.

And, if you're poised to do something, you're perfectly positioned to do it, as if you're standing in a strong, balanced way, ready and able to begin.

grammatical bits:

Part of speech:

Noun, the uncountable kind: "I admire her poise."

Also a verb, the transitive kind. We most often use it passively, maybe because it describes a state of stillness or waiting, as if someone has already positioned themselves in readiness: "She's poised to take over as the club's leader;" "He held his paintbrush poised in the air;" "She stood on the edge of the pool, poised to leap in."

We could use "poise" actively, but we hardly ever do, probably because this active form emphasizes the movement into readiness instead of the still, balanced state of readiness: "She poised herself to take over as the club's leader;" "He poised his paintbrush in the air;" "She poised herself on the ledge of the pool, ready to leap in."

Other forms: 

Poise, poised, poising.

how to use it:

"Poise" is a common word. It's clear, beautiful, and positive, perfect for emphasizing controlled stillness: for describing all kinds of people and things that seem to stand in a steady, graceful state of balance and preparation.

To use the noun, talk about someone's poise: "From far across the room, you can see his poise." "She taught us poise, how to walk as if we had hardback books balanced on our heads." Here's Sara Saedi: "I wanted to bottle her poise and bathe in it daily."

To use the verb, say that someone is poised for something, or poised to do something: "The panther is poised for the kill." Or, say that something is poised somewhere, or poised to do something: "She waits, her fingers poised over the piano keys;" "Her fingers are poised to play the opening chord."

We often use this verb literally: "The runners leaned forward at the starting line, poised to bolt." But we can also use it figuratively: "With two other offers on hand, he's poised to negotiate a fair price;" "With her talent for securing large grants, she's poised to accept a position at almost any university."

We can also turn the verb into an adjective, "poised." "On stage, she's smiling, confident, and poised."

examples:

"With his combination of speed, running style and pedigree, the talented Canada-bred colt could be poised to win this year's Derby."
   — Neil Greenberg, Washington Post, 5 May 2022

"Organic chemistry, one of science's most grueling disciplines, is poised to get a whole lot easier... 3D has arrived. The team reports this week it has reworked its design to synthesize 3D organic molecules, enabling automated setups to build the majority of molecules now painstakingly assembled by organic chemists in the lab."
   — Robert F. Service, Science, 9 February 2022

has this page helped you understand "poise"?

   

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

Thanks for letting me know!
If you have any questions about this word, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.


study it:

Explain the meaning of "poise" without saying "graceful posture" or "aplomb."

try it out:

In Beasts of Prey, Ayana Gray wrote:

"I want to be like the other girls in my year who know how to do their own hair and make clever conversation. I want to learn the beauty of being poised. The problem is, I'm not poised at all."

Talk about what this narrator means. Have you ever felt the same way among your peers? How so, or why not?




before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game this month: It Sounds Wiser in Latin. 

Try matching a handful of Latin phrases to their English translations. If you need some clues, I'll provide them in the form of definitions of related words. Enjoy!

Try these today:

1. ante omnia
2. editiones expurgatæ
3. e vestigio
4. mirabile visu
5. solvitur ambulando

A. before everything else
B. instantly (literally "upon the track")
C. the problem is solved by walking (by testing it out)
D. wonderful to behold
E. versions with objectionable passages removed

To peek at the clues, follow the links:

   1. Something vestigial is...
   2. An anteroom is...
   3. To circumambulate is to...

review this word:

1. The opposite of POISE is

A. TENSION.
B. CLUMSINESS.
C. RELAXATION.

2. Using what we know about the word "poise," if we bump into the obsolete word "poisant," we'll know that it means "_____."

A. heavy or weighty
B. gentle or delicate
C. shining or glistening




Answers to the review questions:
1. B
2. A

Answers to the game questions:

1. ante omnia = before everything else
2. editiones expurgatæ = versions with objectionable passages removed
3. e vestigio =  instantly (literally "upon the track")
4. mirabile visu = wonderful to behold
5. solvitur ambulando = the problem is solved by walking (by testing it out)


a final word:

I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.

From my blog:
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A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.

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