ppl. a. = WELL-BALANCED, WELL-WEIGHED (lit. and fig.).
1616. W. Browne, Brit. Past., I. i. 14. The well poys’d Oares Of the poore Fisher-man that dwelt thereby.
1642. Chas. I., Answ. XIX Propositions, 17. The ancient, equall, happy, well-poised … Constitution.
1663. Patrick, Parab. Pilgrim (1687), 409. Humility and Charity … are sufficient to carry us thorow this evil World with an equal and well-poised mind.
1678. Dryden, All for Love, Ep. Ded. A 2 b. We who have the happiness to be born under so equal, and so well-pois’d a Government.
1777. Potter, Æschylus, Agamem., 271. Comes sloth, and from her well-pois’d sling Scatters the piled up stores.
1781. Cowper, Hope, 611. By this he forms … His well-pois’d estimate of right and wrong.
1791. Burke, Let. Member Nat. Assembly (near end). They were offered a well-poised, free constitution.
1803. Jane Porter, Thaddeus, ii. The well-poised mind of the veteran.
1864. Burton, Scot Abr., II. i. 30. Announcing the moral … in well-poised sentences.
