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Poise vs Steady - What's the difference?

poise | steady |

As nouns the difference between poise and steady

is that poise is (obsolete) weight; an amount of weight, the amount something weighs while steady is (informal) a regular customer.

As verbs the difference between poise and steady

is that poise is (obsolete) to hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt while steady is to stabilize something; to prevent from shaking.

As an adjective steady is

firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.

poise

English

Noun

(-)
  • (obsolete) Weight; an amount of weight, the amount something weighs.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , I.xii:
  • as an huge rockie clift, / Whose false foundation waues haue washt away, / With dreadfull poyse is from the mayneland rift, / [...] So downe he fell [...].
  • The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance the substance weighed.
  • That which causes a balance; a counterweight.
  • * Dryden
  • Men of unbounded imagination often want the poise of judgment.
  • A state of balance, equilibrium or stability
  • (Bentley)
  • composure; freedom from embarrassment or affectation
  • mien; bearing or deportment of the head or body
  • A condition of hovering, or being suspended
  • (physics) A cgs unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter.
  • (wikipedia poise)

    Derived terms

    * centipoise

    Verb

    (pois)
  • (obsolete) To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt.
  • * Longfellow
  • The slender, graceful spars / Poise aloft in air.
  • (obsolete) To counterpoise; to counterbalance.
  • * Shakespeare
  • one scale of reason to poise another of sensuality
  • * Dryden
  • to poise with solid sense a sprightly wit
  • (obsolete) To be of a given weight; to weigh.
  • (obsolete) To add weight to, to weigh down.
  • *, II.2:
  • Every man poiseth upon his fellowes sinne, and elevates his owne.
  • * 1597 , William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet , I.2:
  • you saw her faire none els being by, / Her selfe poysd with her selfe in either eye.
  • To hold (something) in equilibrium, to hold balanced and ready; to carry (something) ready to be used.
  • I poised the crowbar in my hand, and waited.
    to poise the scales of a balance
  • * Dryden
  • Nor yet was earth suspended in the sky; / Nor poised , did on her own foundation lie.
  • To keep (something) in equilibrium; to hold suspended or balanced.
  • The rock was poised precariously on the edge of the cliff.
  • To ascertain, as if by balancing; to weigh.
  • * South
  • He cannot sincerely consider the strength, poise the weight, and discern the evidence.

    steady

    English

    Alternative forms

    *

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.
  • :
  • *Sir (Philip Sidney) (1554-1586)
  • *:Their feet steady , their hands diligent, their eyes watchful, and their hearts resolute.
  • *
  • *:But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ΒΆ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder. The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window,.
  • *
  • *:Captain Edward Carlisle, soldier as he was, martinet as he was, felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, her alluring smile?; he could not tell what this prisoner might do.
  • Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit; not fickle, changeable, or wavering; not easily moved or persuaded to alter a purpose; resolute.
  • :
  • Smooth and not bumpy or with obstructions.
  • :
  • Regular and even.
  • :
  • Slow.
  • Antonyms

    * unsteady

    Derived terms

    * go steady * going steady * * rock-steady * steadily * steadiness * steady as she goes * steady on * steady state

    Verb

  • To stabilize something; to prevent from shaking.
  • Noun

    (steadies)
  • (informal) A regular customer.
  • * 2013 , Sheila Foster, Soho Whore
  • Some of my steadies wanted me to go out with them on a date. Occasionally I let one of them take me to a film or out for a meal.

    Anagrams

    *