early 15c., "weight, quality of being heavy," later "significance, importance" (mid-15c.), from Old French pois "weight, balance, consideration" (12c., Modern French poids), from Medieval Latin pesum "weight," from Latin pensum "something weighted or weighed," (source of Proven?al and Catalan pes, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian peso), noun use of neuter past participle of pendere "to weigh" (see pendant).
The sense of "steadiness, composure" first recorded 1640s, from notion of being equally weighted on either side (1550s). Meaning "balance" is from 1711; meaning "way in which the body is carried" is from 1770.
poise (v.)
late 14c., "to have a certain weight," from stressed form of Old French peser "to weigh, be heavy; weigh down, be a burden; worry, be a concern," from Vulgar Latin *pesare, from Latin pensare "to weigh carefully, weigh out, counter-balance," frequentative of pendere (past participle pensus) "to weigh" (see pendant). For form evolution from Latin to French, see OED. Meaning "to place in equilibrium" is from 1630s (compare equipoise). Passive sense of "to be ready" (to do something) is from 1932. Related: Poised; poising. In 15c. a poiser was an official who weighed goods.
例文
1. It took a moment for Mark to recover his poise .
マークはしばらくしてから落ち着きを取り戻した。
2.What amazed him even more than her appearance was her poise .
彼女の容姿には驚嘆したが、さらに驚いたのは彼女の落ち着きだった。
3.Even when he moved he did so without poise .
彼は歩き始めても姿勢が悪い。
4.She is a beautiful girl with the grace and poise .
彼女は身だしなみが優雅な佳麗だ。
5.She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise .