Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - poised

~ adj 1 not moving but ready to move or do something at any moment + for/on etc  (She saw Matthew poised on the board for a swift, controlled racing dive.) poised to do sth  (He was waiting with the door open, poised to jump, as the train pulled into the station.) 2 completely ready to do or achieve something, and about to do it  (poised to do sth)  (At this point, Spain was poised to become the dominant power in Europe.) 3 not moving and seeming to hang in the air + over/above etc  (Noriko was holding her chopsticks poised in the air, as though waiting for me to say something. | Stanley's hand remained poised over the open box as the footsteps came closer.) 4 in a position in which two things have an equally strong influence + between  (The tone of the book is poised between comedy and moral seriousness.) 5 behaving in a calm, confident way, and able to control your feelings and reactions  (Abbey walked to the microphone, poised and smiling.)