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attitude

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attitude

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Attitude  \At"ti*tude\,  n.  [It.  attitudine  LL  aptitudo  fr  L. 
  aptus  suited,  fitted:  cf  F.  attitude.  Cf  {Aptitude}.] 
  1.  (Paint.  &  Sculp.)  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}. 
 
  Usage:  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  (positur[ae])  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  attitude 
  n  1:  a  complex  mental  orientation  involving  beliefs  and  feelings 
  and  values  and  dispositions  to  act  in  certain  ways;  "he 
  had  the  attitude  that  work  was  fun"  [syn:  {mental 
  attitude}] 
  2:  position  or  arrangement  of  the  body  and  its  limbs;  "he 
  assumed  an  attitude  of  surrender"  [syn:  {position},  {posture}] 
  3:  a  theatrical  pose  created  for  effect;  "the  actor  struck  just 
  the  right  attitude" 
  4:  position  of  aircraft  or  spacecraft  relative  to  a  frame  of 
  reference  (the  horizon  or  direction  of  motion)




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