Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: pois 'weight, heaviness', from Latin pensum, from pendere 'to weigh'

poise

1 noun
     
poise1 [uncountable]
1 a calm, confident way of behaving, combined with an ability to control your feelings or reactions in difficult situations:
Louisa seems to have much more poise and confidence.
2 a graceful way of moving or standing, so that your body seems balanced and not awkward:
the poise of a dancer
She's pretty, but lacks poise.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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