poise
calm balance or self-possession
Root
- pend / pens: hang, weigh, lean, or be suspended
Other words with the pend / pens root
- compendium: a concise collection or summary
- depend: to rely on or hang from for support
- dispense: to distribute or give out
- indispensable: absolutely necessary; impossible to do without
- penchant: strong liking or tendency
- pending: not yet decided or settled
- pendulum: swinging weight hung from a fixed point
- pensive: quietly thoughtful, often with sadness
Poise keeps the weighing image: balance held steadily on both sides.
She answered with poise even after the first question went badly.