posture
UK[ˈpɒstʃə]US[ˈpɑːstʃər]
n
the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting
n
a way of behaving or thinking in a particular situation, especially one intended to create a particular impression
v
to behave in a way that is intended to impress or mislead others
Morpheme Breakdown
post
ure
post
to place
ure
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'posture' originates from the latin verb 'ponere', meaning 'to place or put'. this root, via its past participle 'positus', gave rise to the latin noun 'positura', which signified a position or placement. entering english through french in the early 17th century, 'posture' initially referred to the relative placement or arrangement of parts. the core logic connects the physical act of placing or positioning the body to the more abstract concept of adopting a particular mental or social stance. thus, the literal sense of bodily placement evolved to encompass both a physical bearing and an affected attitude.
Analysis
Structure: post (to place) + ure (noun suffix)
post (from latin 'ponere', meaning 'to place, put, set'), ure (a noun-forming suffix from latin '-ura', indicating an action, process, or result)
Examples
good posture is important for avoiding back pain.
the government adopted a tough posture in the trade negotiations.
he tends to posture as an expert on topics he knows little about.