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 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.
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.
Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow. Shak.