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Antonyms for poised

Grammar : Verb
Spell : poizd
Phonetic Transcription : pɔɪzd


Definition of poised

Origin :
  • early 15c., "weight, quality of being heavy," later "significance, importance" (mid-15c.), from Old French pois "weight, balance, consideration" (12c., Modern French poids), from Medieval Latin pesum "weight," from Latin pensum "something weighted or weighed," (source of Provençal and Catalan pes, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian peso), noun use of neuter past participle of pendere "to weigh" (see pendant).
  • The sense of "steadiness, composure" first recorded 1640s, from notion of being equally weighted on either side (1550s). Meaning "balance" is from 1711; meaning "way in which the body is carried" is from 1770.
  • verb balance, suspend
Example sentences :
  • For a long time Linda sat with poised pencil, studying her foreground.
  • Extract from : « Her Father's Daughter » by Gene Stratton-Porter
  • They stood before him palpitating like birds, poised, tense for flight.
  • Extract from : « The Leopard Woman » by Stewart Edward White
  • He lifted it, poised it, made as though to throw it, to thrust with it.
  • Extract from : « The Leopard Woman » by Stewart Edward White
  • His body was poised for the attack, as a bow is bent to drive forth the arrow.
  • Extract from : « The Leopard Woman » by Stewart Edward White
  • In his hand a revolver appeared, poised for immediate use if there were need.
  • Extract from : « The Black Bag » by Louis Joseph Vance
  • She poised for a moment, then sprang for the dancing rabbit.
  • Extract from : « White Fang » by Jack London
  • Chris was now keenly alert, poised, ready for any chance that might come.
  • Extract from : « Raiders Invisible » by Desmond Winter Hall
  • Cool, poised, efficient, with an air of authority that commanded respect.
  • Extract from : « The Man the Martians Made » by Frank Belknap Long
  • He swung me to his shoulder, and held me poised there, looking up at me.
  • Extract from : « The Strolling Saint » by Raphael Sabatini
  • She poised an instant, then knifed down the slippery runway.
  • Extract from : « A Yankee Flier Over Berlin » by Al Avery

Synonyms for poised

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019