posture (postur)

[Formerly also positure ( This growing posture of affairs is fed by the natural depravity. Bacon , Political Fables, viii., Expl. Concerning the Posture of Things here, we are still involved in a Cloud of Confusion, 'specially touching Church Howell , Letters, iv. 44. Matters. IMG:content-0730.png:[blocks in formation] Bp. Atterbury, Sermons, I. xi. =Syn. 2. Position, Posture, Attitude, Pose. These words agree in expre ing the manner of standing, sitting, lying, etc. The first three may be used in a figurative sense: as, my position on that question is this; his attitude was one of hostility to the measure. Position is the most general word, and is applicable to persons or things. Posture is generally natural, and may be awkward. Attitude is generally studied for the sake of looking graceful; hence it is sometimes affected, the practice of it being then called at titudinizing. An attitude is often taken intentionally for the purpose of imitation or exemplification; generally at titude is more artistic than posture. Posture is generally used of the whole body; attitude has more liberty in referring to the parts of the body, especially the head; but pos i tion is more common in such cases. Pose is now confined to artistic positions, taken generally for effect, of part or the whole of a body or representation of a body, as a statue or a picture. The absolute position of the parties has been altered; the relative position remains unchanged. Macaulay , War of the Succe ion in Spain. I have seen the goats on Mount Pen telic us scatter at the approach of a stranger, climb to the sharp points of projecting rocks, and attitudinize in the most self-con scious manner, striking at once those picturesque postures against the sky with which Oriental pictures have made C. D. Warner, In the Wilderne , iv. us familiar. It is the busine of a painter in his choice of attitudes to foresee the effect and harmony of the lights and shadows with the colours which are to enter into the whole. Dryden, tr. of Dufresnoy's Art of Painting, § 4. Placed, with the instinct of a finished artist, in the best light and most effective pose . Lathrop , Spanish Vistas, p. 108. posture (pos'tur), v.; pret. and pp. postured, ppr. posturing. [ As pointed Diamonds, being set, Cast greater Lustre out of Jet, Those Pieces we esteem'd most rare Which in Night-shadows postur'd are. Howell, Letters, I. v. 22. pot post vent i on alt (post-ven's hon-al), a. [ L.post, after, + ventio (n-), a coming, A postventional change of the moon, i. e. a change that happens after some great movable feast, planetary aspect, appearance of a comet, etc. E. Phillips . post vermis (post-vėr'mis), n .; pl. post vermes (-mēz). [NL., post , behind, + NL. vermis , q. v.] The vermis inferior of the cerebellum. postvidet (post-vid'), v. i. [L. post , after, + videre , see.] To take measures too late: opposed to provide . "When the daughter is stolen, shut Pepper gate;"... when men instead of preventing post vide against dangers. Fuller , Worthies Chester, I. 200. (Davies.) post-wagon (post' wag" on), n. A wagon for posting; a stage-wagon; a diligence. We took our leave of those friends that had accompanied us thither, and began our journey in the common post wagon to Osnabrug, where we came the fourth day following in the evening. Penn , Travels in Holland, etc. (Works, III. 394). post ward (post'wärd), adv . [ post2 + -ward . ] Toward the post. post-warrant† (post'wor"ant), n. An official warrant for accommodation for one traveling by post; a pa port. n. For better A urance of Lodging where I pa , in regard of the Plague, I have a Post - Warrant as far as Saint David's: which is far enough, you will say, for the King hath no Ground further on this Island. Howell , Letters, I. iv. 23. post-windla (post'wind"las), A winding machine worked by brakes or handspikes which have a reciprocating movement. E. H. Knight . post zygapophysial (post-zī"gap-ō-fiz'i-al), a . [ post zygapophysis + -al .] Posterior or inferior and zygapophysial or serving for articulation, as a proce of a vertebra; pertaining to a post zygapophysis, or having its character. post zygapophysis (post-zī-ga-pof'i-sis), n .; pl. post zygapophyses (-sēz). [NL., post , after, + NL. zygapophysis .] In an at , and zoöl ., an inferior or posterior zygapophysis; in man, an inferior oblique or articular proce of a vertebra: opposed to pre zygapophysis . See cuts under lumbar , vertebra , dorsal , and endoskeleton . posy (po'zi), n.; pl. posies (-ziz). [Contr. of IMG:content-0731.png:[ocr errors] IMG:content-0732.png:[blocks in formation] II. in trans . 1. To dispose the body in a particular posture or attitude; put one's self in an artificial posture; specifically, to contort one's self. What is meant by posturing is the distortion of the limbs, such as doing the splits, and putting your leg over your head, and pulling it down your back, and such like busine . Mayhew , London Labour and London Poor, III. 98. 2. To a ume an artificial position of the mind or character; change the natural mental attitude; hence, to be affected; display affectation. Not proud humilities of sense And posturing of penitence, But love's unforced obedience. Whittier, The Meeting. She had forced her intelligence to posture before her will, as the exigencies of her place required. O. W. Holmes , Elsie Venner, viii. They are so affected!... You would say that they posture before the whole universe. E. Schuyler , tr. of Turgénieff's Fathers and Sons, x. posture-maker (pos'tūr-mā"kėr), n. A contortionist; an acrobat. I would fain ask any of the present mismanagers - why should not rope-dancers, vaulters, tumblers, ladder walkers, and posture makers appear again on our stage? Steele , Spectator, No. 258.