Postured

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To have adopted a particular physical stance or attitude that conveys a specific message or emotion
2. To have taken on a certain physical position that expresses a particular sentiment or intention
3. Having arranged one's body in a way that reflects an attitude or feeling for impression

Etymology: "Postured" is the past tense and past participle of "posture," so its story is really the story of "posture." That word came into English in the 1500s from French "posture," which in turn came from Italian "postura," and both trace back to Latin "positura," meaning a position or arrangement. The Latin root is "ponere," "to put or place," which also gave English "position," "deposit," and "postpone." The verb "to posture" first meant simply to arrange oneself in a particular bodily position, often for a painter or sculptor. Its sense of deliberately adopting an attitude to impress or deceive came later, and it is that sense of performance that gives "postured" its flavour. A figure who has postured is not just standing somewhere but holding a pose meant to be read by an audience.

Synonyms: positioned, arranged