pose

¹

[ pohz ]

verb (used without object)

, posed, pos·ing.

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, pos·ing.

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, pos·ing.

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 po·sés [poh-, zeyz, paw-, zey].

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 Words From

• 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.

Example Sentences

Plus there is another problem that the viruses pose—the problem that apparently is the culprit this year—they evolve.

From The Daily Beast

He called out the conformism hiding in the pose of rugged individuality.

From The Daily Beast

After the Thursday prayer, the crowd of Congressional staff and lawmakers posed in the iconic, "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" pose.

From The Daily Beast

Cooper had little Alexis pose for a picture on the exact spot there Garner was pinned.

From The Daily Beast

Some, like Norman Mailer, adopted the cooler pose of being casually interested in the possibility.

From The Daily Beast

He remembered something—the cherished pose of being a man plunged fathoms-deep in business.

From Project Gutenberg

She was growing a little stout, but it did not seem to detract an iota from the grace of every step, pose, gesture.

From Project Gutenberg

Ollie saw someone standing before it, bending slightly forward in the pose of expectation.

From Project Gutenberg

But she was young enough and pretty enough to pay little heed to pose or background.

From Project Gutenberg

What's more, I s'pose he can't even see them Injun pony tracks around the body.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• give
• present
• suggest