D defs.my
Entry 6 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Posture

/päs'-chẽr/ · Pos·ture · IPA /ˈpɑst͡ʃɚ/
01 n. 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 pur…
  1. 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.(Fine Arts)
    “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. 2.
    Place; position; situation.[Obs.]
    “His [man's] noblest posture and station in this world.” Sir M. Hale.
  3. 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.
02 v. t. 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; …
imp. & p. p. Postured; p. pr. & vb. n. Posturing
  1. 1.
    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.
03 v. i. To assume a particular posture or attitude; to contort the body into artificial attitudes, as an acrobat or contortionist; also, to pose.
  1. 1.
    To assume a particular posture or attitude; to contort the body into artificial attitudes, as an acrobat or contortionist; also, to pose.
  2. 2.
    Fig.: To assume a character; as, to posture as a saint.