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Webster 1913 Edition

Posture

Pos′ture

(?; 135)
,
Noun.
[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.
Shakespeare
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
.

Pos′ture

(?; 135)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Postured
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Posturing
.]
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.

Pos′ture

,
Verb.
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
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Posture

POS'TURE

,
Noun.
[L. positura; pono, positus.]
1.
In painting and sculpture, attitude; the situation of a figure with regard to the eye, and of the several principal members with regard to each other, by which action is expressed. Postures should be accommodated to the character of the figure, and the posture of each member to its office. Postures are natural or artificial. Natural postures are such as our ordinary actions and the occasions of life lead us to exhibit; artificial postures are such as are assumed or learnt for particular purposes, or in particular occupations, as in dancing, fencing, &c.
2.
Situation; condition; particular state with regard to something else; as the posture of public affairs before or after a war.
3.
Situation of the body; as an abject posture.
4.
State; condition. The fort is in a posture of defense.
5.
The situation or disposition of the several parts of the body with respect to each other, or with respect to a particular purpose.
He casts
His eyes against the moon in most strange postures.
The posture of a poetic figure is the description of the heroes in the performance of such or such an action.
6.
Disposition; frame; as the posture of the soul.

POS'TURE

,
Verb.
T.
To place in a particular manner; to dispose the parts of a body for a particular purpose.
He was raw with posturing himself according to the direction of the chirurgeons.

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