Both Uses of
poise
in
The Call of the Wild
- His newborn cunning gave him poise and control.†
Chpt 3 *
- The dog-driver held the axe poised in his hand, and as Buck shot past him the axe crashed down upon mad Dolly's head.†
Chpt 3
Definition:
-
(poise) calm and in control -- as in "shows poise under pressure"
and/or:
prepared for action -- as in "poised for action" -- (sometimes suspended or hovering as in "a finger poised over the mute button")
and/or:
confident and graceful in movement -- as in "the poise and balance of a dancer"