attituden.
/ˈatᵻtjuːd/, /ˈatᵻtʃuːd/, U.S. /ˈædəˌt(j)ud/ 1. In Fine Arts: The ‘disposition’ of a figure in statuary or painting; hence, the posture given to it. (Now merged in sense 2.)
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > representation in art > [noun] > an artistic representation > of living thing > of human figure > posture
attitude1668
posturea1711
pose1818
contrapposto1903
1668 J. Evelyn tr. R. Fréart Idea Perfection Painting Advt. Though we retain the words, Action and Posture..the tearm Aptitude [Fr. attitude] is more expressive. And it were better to say the Disposition of a Dead Corps than the Posture of it, which seems a Tearm too gross; nor were it to speak like a Painter, to say, this Figure is in an handsome Posture, but in a graceful Disposition and Aptitude [Fr. attitude]. The Italians say Attitudine.
1686 W. Aglionby Painting Illustr. (new ed.) iii. 107 The Painter must also vary his Heads, his Bodies, his Aptitudes.
1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 340 The several Statues that we see with the same Air, Posture, and Aptitudes.
1718 M. Prior Ded. Ld. Dorset Bernini would have taken His Opinion upon the Beauty and Attitude of a Figure.
1721 in N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict.
1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Attitude, the posture or action in which a statue or painted figure is placed. [The only sense.]
2.
a. A posture of the body proper to, or implying, some action or mental state assumed by human beings or animals. to strike an attitude: to assume it theatrically, and not as the unstudied expression of action or passion.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > posture > [noun] > proper to or implying an action or mental state
attitudea1731
the world > action or operation > behaviour > affected behaviour or affectation > be affected or act affectedly [verb (intransitive)] > use affected posture or gesture
attitudinize1784
to strike an attitude1883
a1731 D. Defoe New Voy. round World (1787) II. 62 He took the two men, and put them in the same attitude.
1775 J. Harris Philos. Arrangem. xiii. 330 These various Positions peculiar to Animal Bodies, and to the human above the rest (commonly known by the name of Attitudes).
1832 H. Martineau For Each & All i. 4 She stood with her arms by her side in the attitude of waiting.
1863 A. P. Stanley Lect. Jewish Church I. vi. 140 He stands, in the Oriental attitude of prayer.
1883 J. Gilmour Among Mongols xviii. 211 You will find him..striking pious attitudes at every new object of reverence.
b. figurative. Of inanimate things, conceptions, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > [noun]
statec1225
estatec1230
farea1325
casec1325
beingc1330
degreec1330
condition1340
suita1375
stature?a1513
existence1530
affection?1543
existency1587
subsistence1597
consistence1626
subsistency1628
tone1641
consistency1690
attitude1744
situation1765
working order1784
faring1811
status1837
figure1858
the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > [noun]
thingeOE
to-tagc12..
estrec1300
casec1325
aboutstanding1340
circumstancec1380
termsa1382
conditionc1384
befalla1492
weather1603
attendant1607
belonginga1616
circumstantial1647
incident1649
incidence1670
incidental1707
attitude1744
circs1883
1744 M. Akenside Pleasures Imagination i. 30 The gayest, happiest attitude of things.
1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 96. ⁋10 To copy the mien and attitudes of Truth.
1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus i. iv. 11/1 The remainder [of his sentences] are in quite angular attitudes, buttressed up by props (of parentheses and dashes).
c. Aeronautics. (See quots.) Also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > specific movements or positions of aircraft > [noun] > attitude in relation to line of travel
attitude1910
trim1919
1910 R. Ferris How it Flies 455 Attitude, the position of a plane as related to the line of its travel.
1914 Royal Engineers' Jrnl. Nov. 311 Attitude, an aeroplane's or wing's position relative to the direction of motion through the air.
1953 Flight 17 July 78/2 The automatic pilot..applies control movements proportional to the attitude changes.
1962 J. Glenn in J. Glenn et al. Into Orbit 209 The capsule's attitude would have to be near-perfect when the rockets fired, or the angle of re-entry would be affected.
d. Dance. A posture or disposition of the body; spec. a form of arabesque (see quot. 1957).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > movements or steps > [noun] > carriage of body
presence1706
attitude1721
plastique1884
society > leisure > dancing > ballet > [noun] > movements > pose
attitude1721
arabesque1828
pose1845
écarté1922
fish dive1943
1721 J. Weaver Anat. & Mech. Lect. Dancing 137 Dancing is an elegant, and regular Movement, harmonically composed of beautiful Attitudes, and contrasted graceful Postures of the Body.
1721 J. Weaver Anat. & Mech. Lect. Dancing 145 Attitude is a Posture, or graceful Disposition of the Body, in Standing; Sitting; or Lying.
1830 R. Barton tr. C. Blasis Code of Terpsichore (ed. 2) ii. v. 74 That particular position technically termed attitude is the most elegant, but at the same time the most difficult which dancing comprises.
1911 J. E. C. Flitch Mod. Dancing iii. 42 One of her [sc. Marie Taglioni's] most wonderful attitudes was an arabesque which gave her the appearance of actually flying.
1922 C. W. Beaumont & S. Idzikowski Man. Theory & Pract. Class. Theatr. Dancing 27 There are an infinite number of attitudes, so that they depend on the taste of the professor or chorégraphe.
1957 G. B. L. Wilson Dict. Ballet 32 Attitude, position derived from the statue of Mercury by Giovanni da Bologna.
3. Settled behaviour or manner of acting, as representative of feeling or opinion.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > [noun] > demeanour or bearing > as expressive of feelings or opinion > settled
attitude1837
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. II. i. ii. 20 In the Senate-house again, the attitude of the Right Side is that of calm unbelief.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People vi. §2. 278 That the misrule had been serious was shown by the attitude of the commercial class.
4.
a. attitude of mind n. deliberately adopted, or habitual, mode of regarding the object of thought.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > mental attitude, point of view > [noun]
spectaclec1386
reckoninga1393
view1573
sect1583
prospective1603
light1610
posture1642
point of view1701
stand1819
attitude of mind1832
psychology1834
standpoint1834
perspective1841–8
position1845
viewpoint1856
angle1860
way of looking at it1861
attitudea1873
pose1892
Anschauung1895
slant1905
1832 Trevelyan in Life Macaulay (1876) I. v. 254 With regard to our Eastern question the attitude of his own mind is depicted in the passage on Burke.
1862 H. Spencer First Princ. i. i. §1. 4 Much depends on the attitude of mind we preserve while listening to, or taking part in, the controversy.
1881 Athenæum No. 2811. 328/1 A necessary accompaniment of the allegorical attitude of the mind.
b. = attitude of mind n. at sense 4a above. Cf. senses 2b, 3.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > mental attitude, point of view > [noun]
spectaclec1386
reckoninga1393
view1573
sect1583
prospective1603
light1610
posture1642
point of view1701
stand1819
attitude of mind1832
psychology1834
standpoint1834
perspective1841–8
position1845
viewpoint1856
angle1860
way of looking at it1861
attitudea1873
pose1892
Anschauung1895
slant1905
a1873 J. S. Mill Three Ess. Relig. (1874) 126 Along with this change in the moral attitude of thoughtful unbelievers towards the religious ideas of mankind, a corresponding difference has manifested itself in their intellectual attitude.
1909 E. B. Titchener Lect. Exper. Psychol. Thought-processes iii. 112 Attitude, the background of meaning or reference against which a mental process is seen, may [etc.].
1922 H. E. Palmer Eng. Intonation p. viii We all recognize immediately..each of the attitudes associated with the tones.
1937 G. W. Allport Personality (1938) xi. 294 Both attitude and trait are indispensable concepts... Ordinarily attitude should be employed when the disposition is bound to an object or value, that is.., when it is aroused by a well-defined class of stimuli, and when the individual feels toward these stimuli a definite attraction or repulsion.
1941 Punch 3 Sept. 203/1 The attitude of ordinary people..towards mathematics..may be summed up as the same as their attitude to the police force.
1948 D. Krech & R. S. Crutchfield Theory & Probl. Social Psychol. v. 151 Many psychologists regard the study of attitudes as the central problem of social psychology.
1958 G. J. Warnock Eng. Philos. since 1900 169 A marked capacity for abstract thought is compatible with an ‘attitude to life’ entirely ordinary, or even dull.
5. Literary Criticism. spec. in the use of I. A. Richards, ‘the non-overt impulse to action involved in the poetic experience of the reader’.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > study of poetry > [noun] > poetic experience
attitude1925
1925 I. A. Richards Princ. Lit. Crit. xv. 112 These imaginal and incipient activities or tendencies to action, I shall call attitudes.
1925 I. A. Richards Princ. Lit. Crit. xvi. 132 For it is the attitudes evoked which are the all-important part of any experience.
Compounds
attributive and in other combinations, as attitude measurement, attitude research, attitude scale, attitude study, attitude test, attitude theory; attitude-taking n.
ΚΠ
1904 W. James Mem. & Stud. (1911) vi. 140 Spencer's ‘Ethics’ is a most vital and original piece of attitude-taking in the world of ideals.
1929 L. L. Thurstone & E. J. Chave Measurement of Attitude p. xii The true allocation of an individual to a position on an attitude scale is an abstraction.
1929 L. L. Thurstone & E. J. Chave Measurement of Attitude i. 1 (heading) Theory of attitude measurement.
1934 Jrnl. Social Psychol. 5 387 The attitude test was administered again.
1935 H. C. Warren Dict. Psychol. 24/1 Attitude scale, a scale for measuring degrees of attitude upon a particular question.
1940 Mind 49 228 In the Introduction Ross divides attempted definitions of ethical terms into ‘attitude-theories’ and ‘consequence-theories’.
1941 Jrnl. Social Psychol. 13 429 (heading) On the use of certain qualitative methods of attitude research.
1958 Listener 28 Aug. 308/3 All types of attitude-studies could contribute something.
1960 Language & Speech III. 223 Attitude measurement..seemed a promising technique.
1960 Language & Speech III. 223 Osgood's semantic differential..was the attitude-measuring technique used in the experiment.
1960 Times Rev. Industry Jan. 54/1 Attitude and motivation research assesses what qualities of the product give it its appeal to some consumers and not to others.
Draft additions 1997
6.
a. Aggressive or uncooperative behaviour; a resentful or antagonistic manner. In phrases to cop an attitude, to give attitude, etc., to assume such a manner. slang (originally U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > indignation or resentment > [noun] > indignant or resentful manner
attitude1975
attitude problem1977
the mind > emotion > anger > indignation or resentment > be or become resentful [verb (intransitive)] > show indignation or resentment
bridlea1475
bristle1549
muzzle1581
snarl1597
pique1664
growl1706
to bridle up1709
grrra1963
to give attitude1975
the mind > emotion > hatred > hostility > [noun] > aggressive or uncooperative behaviour
passive aggression1853
attitude1975
attitude problem1977
the mind > emotion > hatred > hostility > be hostile [verb (intransitive)] > assume resentful or antagonistic manner
to give attitude1975
the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > be unwilling [verb (intransitive)] > have an unwilling attitude
to give attitude1975
1962 Maurer & Vogel Narcotics & Narcotic Addiction (ed. 2) 289/2 (Gloss.) Attitude, hostile or aloof and uncooperative.
1974 H. L. Foster Ribbin', Jivin', & Playin' Dozens iv. 169 Attitude, to get mad without a good reason.]
1975 H. Wentworth & S. B. Flexner Dict. Amer. Slang (new ed.) Suppl. 673/2 Attitude,..a resentful, hostile manner, either toward people in general or toward a specific group. A person who ‘catches a quick attitude’ is one who is easily angered and ready to fight. Mostly black and prison use.
1980 Washington Post 20 July h3/3 If they wanted to give me ‘attitude’ about being white, they really could–I'm the token minority in this cast. But the whole company has been really nice.
1982 A. Maupin Further Tales of City 131 No one could resist the urge to clap along... ‘I like this,’ Michael told Bill. ‘Everybody's off guard. It's harder to give attitude.’
1985 Sunday Times 23 June (Colour Suppl.) 13/1 I can't believe this restaurant. I ask the waiter for a clean fork and all I get is attitude.
1985 N.Y. Times 26 Oct. 31/4 If I'm out there for months with everybody yelling at me, I'm going to cop an attitude.
1990 L. Lane & N. L. Andrews Malibu 90265 ii. 18 No wonder the saleswoman had an attitude... A zero had just dropped off the end of her commission.
1991 Athlon's Baseball '91 25/1 Bonds developed what is called an attitude. Underneath it all he is a nice kid.
b. Hence, any highly independent or individual outlook, approach, appearance, etc.; self-possession; style, swagger, front; esp. in with (an) attitude. slang (originally U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > self-assertiveness > [noun]
spritec1540
forwardnessa1616
perkinga1624
petulcity1628
perknessa1640
furthinessa1658
outbearing1740
self-assertion1805
bumptiousness1834
cockiness1841
perkiness1847
self-assertiveness1855
coxiness1859
forthputting1861
assertiveness1881
pushingness1881
aggression1889
pushfulness1897
pushiness1898
chestiness1909
attitude1975
the mind > emotion > pride > self-assertiveness > [adverb]
crousea1525
forwardly1552
cockishly1570
officiously1598
cockingly?1734
protrusively1833
perkingly1841
self-assertingly1841
perkily1843
bumptiously1844
cockily1855
chestily1908
with (an) attitude1975
the world > action or operation > behaviour > a standard of conduct > [noun] > deviation from normal standards of behaviour > highly individual demeanour
attitude1975
the world > action or operation > behaviour > a standard of conduct > standard of conduct [phrase] > not > in highly individual manner
with (an) attitude1975
1975 Rolling Stone 24 Apr. 52/1 Natty dreadlocks means hair with an attitude: kinky, jungle thick and matted into tortuous antibraids.
1986 ‘Prince’ Kiss (song) 6 You don't have 2 watch Dy-nas-ty 2 have an attitude.
1988 Tower Records' Top Feb. 20/4 You got to go at the business with an attitude or you get nowhere.
1990 Police Rev. 28 Sept. 1916/1 In this job, you gotta have attitude, hang loose, ready for anything.
1992 Face Feb. 44/1 The not-entirely-unattractive cast—spearheaded by Jason Priestley and Luke Perry as hunks with not much attitude Brandon and Dylan—set a good few pulses racing and hogged the covers of the nation's teen press.
Draft additions 1997
attitude problem n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > indignation or resentment > [noun] > indignant or resentful manner
attitude1975
attitude problem1977
the mind > emotion > hatred > hostility > [noun] > aggressive or uncooperative behaviour
passive aggression1853
attitude1975
attitude problem1977
the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > [noun] > unwilling attitude
attitude problem1977
1977 Washington Post 3 Aug. d3/2 No one will argue with Anderson about early attitude problems. But Rawly Eastwick..says there's more to it than that.
1992 Spy Mar. 55 The more cozily bourgeois a culture becomes, the more its citizenry admires the wary iconoclast, the individual with an ‘attitude problem’, the bad boy.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1668- ship-craft
- ship-crane
- ship-deliverer
- ship-destroying
- ship-dock
- ship-dotted
- ship-fare
- ship-fashion
- ship-ferd
- ship-fever
- ship-fighting
- ship-firing
- ship-forsaken
- ship-fountain
- ship-fraught
- ship-freight
- ship-governor
- ship-gume
- ship-gun
- ship-halter
- ship-handling
- ship-head
- ship-hearth
- ship-hire
- ship-holder