Category:Posture

Pos"ture, n. Etym: [f., fr. L. positura, fr. ponere, positum, to Place. See position.]

1. The position of the body; the situation or disposition of the Several parts of the body with respect to each other, or for a Particular purpose; especially (fine arts), the position of a figure With regard to the several principal members by which action is Expressed; attitude. Atalanta, the posture of whose limbs was so lively expressed. . . One would have sworn the very picture had run. Sir p. Sidney. In most strange postures we have seen him set himself. Shak. The posture of a poetic figure is a description of his heroes in the Performance of such or such an action. Dryden.

2. Place; position; situation. [obs.] Milton. His [man's] noblest posture and station in this world. Sir m. Hale.

3. State or condition, whether of external circumstances, or of Internal feeling and will; disposition; mood; as, a posture of Defense; the posture of affairs. The several postures of his devout soul. Atterbury.

Syn. -- attitude; position. See attitude.

Posture Pos"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Postured; p. pr. & vb. n. Posturing.]

Defn: to place in a particular position or attitude; to dispose the Parts of, with reference to a particular purpose; as, to posture One's self; to posture a model. Howell.

Posture Pos"ture, v. i.

1. To assume a particular posture or attitude; to contort the body Into artificial attitudes, as an acrobat or contortionist; also, to Pose.

2. Fig.: To assume a character; as, to posture as a saint.