equipoise

the word 'equipoise' is a compound formed within english from two distinct latin-derived elements. the first part, 'equi-', originates from the latin aequus, meaning "equal" or "level," a concept with deep roots in proto-indo-European. the second part, 'poise', entered english via old french from the latin verb pensare, meaning "to weigh," which itself is a frequentative of pendere, "to hang" or "to weigh." the literal, physical notion of "equal weight" from these combined roots evolved into the modern abstract sense of a state of perfect balance or equilibrium between any opposing forces, whether physical, mental, or metaphorical.

Structure: equi (equal) + poise (balance) equi (from latin aequus, meaning "equal, level") + poise (from old french peser, "to weigh", from latin pensare, "to weigh carefully", from pendere, "to hang, cause to hang; weigh")