Where does “poise” come from?
poise (English) comes from Middle English poys, from Middle French pois, from Latin pēnsum, from Latin pendō, from Proto-Italic pendō, from Proto-Indo-European (s)péndeti, from Proto-Indo-European (s)pend- — to stretch.
poise (English): A state of balance, equilibrium or stability;...
Definitions
- A state of balance, equilibrium or stability;...
Ancestry of “poise”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | poys | — |
| 2 | Middle French | pois | weight |
| 3 | Latin | pēnsum | allotment, portion, weight (of wool measured out to a slave to spin in a day) |
| 4 | Latin | pendō | to weigh, weigh out |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | pendō | hang, put in a hanging position |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)péndeti | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)pend- | to stretch |