POS'TURE, noun [Latin 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, etc.

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 transitive 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.