Equipoise

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɛkwɪpɔɪz/

Alternative forms

• æquipoise archaic

Origin

From - + poise.

Full definition of equipoise

Noun

1. A state of balance; equilibrium.
• 1794, Edmund Burke, ,Government was unnerved, confounded, and in a manner suspended. Its equipoise was totally gone.
• 1869, T. S. Arthur, , Ch. IV,“An easy evasion”, retorted the excited bride, who had lost her mental equipoise.
• 1878, Thomas Hardy, , Ch. 6,The words were not without emotion, and retained their level tone as if by a careful equipoise between imminent extremes.
• 1927–29, Mahatma Gandhi, , Part II, Raychandbhai, translated 1940 by ,And I saw him thus absorbed in godly pursuits in the midst of business, not once or twice, but very often. I never saw him lose his state of equipoise.
2. A counterbalance.
• 1911, H. G. Wells, ,The cone’s not fixed, it’s hung by a chain from a lever, and balanced by an equipoise.

Verb

1. (transitive) To act or make to act as an equipoise.
2. (transitive) To cause to be or stay in equipoise.