poised
UK: pɔɪzd | US: pɔɪzd
adj. 1. Composed, self-assured, and balanced in demeanor.
adj. 2. Held temporarily inactive or suspended in readiness.
adj. 3. Positioned or prepared for imminent action.
poised = pois<weight> + ed<adjective suffix>
- pois<weight>: From Old French pois (modern poids), derived from Latin pensum (something weighed).
- ed<adjective suffix>: Forms past participles or adjectives indicating a state.
Etymology Origin:
The word poised traces back to the Latin pensare (to weigh), reflecting the idea of balance or suspension. In Old French, pois (weight) evolved into poiser (to weigh), later influencing Middle English poisen (to balance). The modern sense of "composed" emerged metaphorically from the physical notion of equilibrium, while "readied" derives from the suspended state of a weighted object.
She remained poised during the interview, answering each question calmly.
The dancer stood poised on one foot, perfectly balanced.
The army was poised to strike at dawn.
His pen hovered, poised above the blank page.
The cat was poised to pounce on its prey.