ATTITUDE

attitude

(noun) a theatrical pose created for effect; “the actor struck just the right attitude”

position, posture, attitude

(noun) the arrangement of the body and its limbs; “he assumed an attitude of surrender”

attitude, mental attitude

(noun) a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways; “he had the attitude that work was fun”

attitude

(noun) position of aircraft or spacecraft relative to a frame of reference (the horizon or direction of motion)

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

attitude (countable and uncountable, plural attitudes)

The position of the body or way of carrying oneself.

Synonyms: posture, stance

(figurative) Disposition or state of mind.

(aeronautics, nautical, engineering) The orientation of a vehicle or other object relative to the horizon, direction of motion, other objects, etc.

Synonyms: trim, orientation

(ballet) A position similar to arabesque, but with the raised leg bent at the knee.

Verb

attitude (third-person singular simple present attitudes, present participle attituding, simple past and past participle attituded)

To assume or to place in a particular position or orientation; to pose.

To express an attitude through one's posture, bearing, tone of voice, etc.

Anagrams

• attuited

Source: Wiktionary


At"ti*tude, n. Etym: [It. attitudine, LL. aptitudo, fr. L. aptus suited, fitted: cf. F. attitude. Cf. Aptitude.]

1. (Paint. & Sculp.)

Definition: The posture, action, or disposition of a figure or a statue.

2. The posture or position of a person or an animal, or the manner in which the parts of his body are disposed; position assumed or studied to serve a purpose; as, a threatening attitude; an attitude of entreaty.

3. Fig.: Position as indicating action, feeling, or mood; as, in times of trouble let a nation preserve a firm attitude; one's mental attitude in respect to religion. The attitude of the country was rapidly changing. J. R. Green. To strike an attitude, to take an attitude for mere effect.

Syn.

– Attitude, Posture. Both of these words describe the visible disposition of the limbs. Posture relates to their position merely; attitude refers to their fitness for some specific object. The object of an attitude is to set forth exhibit some internal feeling; as, attitude of wonder, of admiration, of grief, etc. It is, therefore, essentially and designedly expressive. Its object is the same with that of gesture; viz., to hold forth and represent. Posture has no such design. If we speak of posture in prayer, or the posture of devotion, it is only the natural disposition of the limbs, without any intention to show forth or exhibit. 'T is business of a painter in his choice of attitudes (posituræ) to foresee the effect and harmony of the lights and shadows. Dryden. Never to keep the body in the same posture half an hour at a time. Bacon.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

23 February 2025

BARGAIN

(noun) an advantageous purchase; “she got a bargain at the auction”; “the stock was a real buy at that price”


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the most massive cup of coffee contained 22,739.14 liters and was created by Alcaldía Municipal de Chinchiná (Colombia) at Parque de Bolívar, Chinchiná, Caldas, Colombia, on 15 June 2019. Fifty people worked for more than a month to build this giant cup. The drink prepared was Arabic coffee.

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