peise meaning (obsolete): definition, etymology and quotations

peise

verb

/peɪz/ · /piːz/

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

Obsolete To weigh or measure the weight of; to poise.

Figuratively, Obsolete To weigh or take the measure of (an immaterial object).

Figuratively, Obsolete To weigh down, retard

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

peise

noun

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

UK, Dialectal, Obsolete A weight; a poise.

To weigh pence with a peise.c. 1378-9, [William Langland], “(please specify the passus number)”, in The Vision of Pierce Plowman [...] (Cr, B-text), London: […] Roberte Crowley, […], published 1550, →OCLC:

Obsolete A heavy blow, an impact.

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.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.