self-poised

[ self-poizd ]

adjective

1. acting with poise.
2. being balanced without support.

Other Words From

• self-pois·ed·ness [self-, poi, -zid-nis], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-poised¹

First recorded in 1620–30; self- ( def ) + poised ( def )

Example Sentences

He said, "The great principle of being happy in this world is not to mind or be affected with small things," a maxim which he carried out in his peaceful, self-poised, and remarkably happy life.

From Project Gutenberg

He was remarkably calm and self-poised through life, saying that a painter should never be agitated.

From Project Gutenberg

“No sun yet beam’d from yon cerulean height; No orbing moon repair’d her horns of light; No earth, self-poised, on liquid ether hung; No sea its world-enclasping waters flung; Earth was half air, half sea, an embryo heap; Nor earth was fix’d, nor fluid was the deep; Dark was the void of air; no form was traced; Obstructing atoms struggled through the waste; Where cold, and hot, and moist, and dry rebell’d; Heavy the light, and hard the soft repell’d.”

From Project Gutenberg

Through it all he was the self-poised American, never losing his native sense of humour.

From Project Gutenberg

Well it becomes the favorite of fortune, The royal arbitress of others' weal, The world's desire, and England's deity, Self-poised, self-governed, clear and firm to gaze Where others close their aching eyes, to dream.

From Project Gutenberg