pose

¹

[ pohz ]

verb (used without object)

posed, posing.

1. to assume a particular attitude or stance, especially with the hope of impressing others:

   He likes to pose as an authority on literature.

2. to present oneself insincerely:

   He seems to be posing in all his behavior.

3. to assume or hold a physical attitude, as for an artistic purpose:

   to pose for a painter.

   Synonyms: model, sit

verb (used with object)

posed, posing.

1. to place in a suitable position or attitude for a picture, tableau, or the like:

   to pose a group for a photograph.

2. to assert, state, or put forward:

   That poses a difficult problem.

3. to put or place.

noun

1. a bodily attitude or posture:

   Her pose had a note of defiance in it.

2. a mental attitude or posture:

   a pose cultivated by the upper classes.

3. the act or period of posing, as for a picture.
4. a position or attitude assumed in posing, or exhibited by a figure in a picture, sculptural work, tableau, or the like.
5. a moment in which a dancer remains motionless, usually in an assumed posture.
6. a studied attitude; affectation:

   His liberalism is merely a pose.

pose

²

[ pohz ]

verb (used with object)

posed, posing.

1. Archaic. to perplex or baffle, as by a difficult question or problem.
2. Obsolete. to examine by putting questions.

posé

³

[ poh-zey; French paw-zey ]

noun

Ballet.

plural posés

1. a movement in which the dancer steps, in any desired position, from one foot to the other with a straight knee onto the flat foot, demi-pointe, or pointe.

pose

¹

/ pəʊz /

verb

1. to assume or cause to assume a physical attitude, as for a photograph or painting
2. introften foll byas to pretend to be or present oneself (as something one is not)
3. intr to affect an attitude or play a part in order to impress others
4. tr to put forward, ask, or assert

   to pose a question

noun

1. a physical attitude, esp one deliberately adopted for or represented by an artist or photographer
2. a mode of behaviour that is adopted for effect

pose

²

/ pəʊz /

verb

1. rare.
   to puzzle or baffle
2. archaic.
   to question closely

Other Word Forms

• pos·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pose¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English verb posen, from Middle French poser, from Late Latin pausāre “to stop, cease, rest,” derivative of Latin pausa “stop, cessation” ( pause ); French poser has taken over the basic sense of Latin pōnere “to put, place” and represents it in French borrowings of its prefixed derivatives ( compose, depose, etc.)

Origin of pose²

First recorded in 1520–30; shortening of obsolete appose, variant of oppose, used in sense of Latin appōnere “to put to”

Origin of pose³

First recorded in 1925–30; from French: “poised,” past participle of poser “to pose”; pose ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pose¹

C14: from Old French poser to set in place, from Late Latin pausāre to cease, put down (influenced by Latin pōnere to place)

Origin of pose²

C16: from obsolete appose, from Latin appōnere to put to, set against; see oppose

Synonym Study

See position.

Related Words

• give
• present
• suggest