Poising

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈpɔɪzɪŋ/

Definitions

1. Holding or balancing oneself in a stable and controlled way ; getting ready or positioning oneself to begin an action or movement
2. Maintaining equilibrium or steady control while suspended or standing still ; arranging oneself carefully before starting something
3. Achieving a firm and steady stance ; being mentally or physically prepared to move or respond

Etymology: The verb "poise" descends from Latin "pendere," meaning "to weigh," and the same root gives us "pendulum" and "ponder." The idea was literal first: something that is weighed is balanced, and an object held in balance is steady. Middle English borrowed the noun from Anglo-Norman and Middle French forms meaning "weight" or "measure of weight," and English speakers soon used it for the balance of a body or mind. That physical sense of equilibrium carried over into the figurative one. To poise yourself is to hold your body or bearing evenly, so that you are neither tipping over nor wavering, and the word came to describe composure under pressure as well. The "-ing" ending simply turns the verb into a form describing the act of holding that balance.

Synonyms: balancing, suspending, hovering

Antonyms: dropping, falling, plummeting