peise

English

Etymology

From Middle English peysen, from Anglo-Norman peiser, peser and Middle French peser, from Latin pēnsāre (literally “weigh”). Doublet with poise.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /peɪz/, /piːz/
• Rhymes: -eɪz, -iːz
• Homophones: peas, pease, pays

Verb

peise (third-person singular simple present peises, present participle peising, simple past and past participle peised)

1. (obsolete) To weigh or measure the weight of; to poise.
2. (obsolete, figuratively) To weigh or take the measure of (an immaterial object).
3. (obsolete, figuratively) To weigh down, retard
   • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

     I speak too long; but 'tis to peise the time,
     To eke it, and to draw it out in length, […]

Noun

peise (plural peises)

1. (obsolete, dialectal, UK) A weight; a poise.
   • c. 1370–1390, [William Langland], “(please specify the passus number)”, in The Vision of Pierce Plowman [...], London: […] Roberte Crowley, […], published 1550, →OCLC:

     To weigh pence with a peise.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. (obsolete) A heavy blow, an impact.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

     Great Ptolomæe it for his lemans sake / Ybuilded all of glasse, by Magicke powre, / And also it impregnable did make; / Yet when his loue was false, he with a peaze it brake.

References

• Oxford English Dictionary [edition?]
• “peise”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• Works of William Shakespeare; Victoria edition. Macmillan & Co 1901. Vol III; Glossary; p 638

Anagrams

• espie

Middle English

Noun

peise

1. Alternative form of pese