peise

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English

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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Verb

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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

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peise (plural peises)

  1. (obsolete, dialectal, UK) A weight; a poise.
  2. (obsolete) A heavy blow, an impact.

References

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Anagrams

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Middle English

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Noun

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peise

  1. Alternative form of pese