Pos"ture (?; 135), n. [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.
Pos"ture (?; 135), v. 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, 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.
