poise
POYZ
/pɔɪz/
Graceful and elegant bearing in a person; composure and dignity of manner.
In gymnastics, poise is the ability to look effortless and elegant even while performing incredibly difficult physical feats.
The story behind the word. From the Old French 'pois', meaning 'weight'. It originally referred to the state of being balanced, like a set of scales perfectly weighted on both sides.
Word relationships
- composure: Composure is mental calmness; poise is the physical manifestation of that calmness.
- awkwardness: Lacking grace or ease in movement or manner.
Commonly confused with
- posture: Posture is just how you sit or stand; poise is the grace with which you move and carry yourself.
Word family
- poised (adjective): Having a composed and self-assured manner.
Collocations
- perfect poise
- natural poise
- lose one's poise
Example sentences
- "Despite the pressure of the Olympics, she maintained her poise throughout the routine." Performance
- "She had the poise of a queen." Literature
Memory hook
Poise is like a 'Pose' that shows you are in control. Grace under pressure.
When not to use
Don't use it for raw power; it's about the 'look' and 'control' of the performance.
Fun facts
- The word 'avoirdupois' (the system of weights) comes from the same root as poise.
Related words
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