pose

I. verb (posed; posing) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French poser, from Vulgar Latin *pausare, from Late Latin, to stop, rest, pause, from Latin pausa pause Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to set forth or offer for attention or consideration <

let me pose a question

> b. to come to attention as ; present <

smoking poses a health risk

> 2. a. to put or set in place b. to place (as a model) in a studied attitude intransitive verb 1. to assume a posture or attitude usually for artistic purposes 2. to affect an attitude or character usually to deceive or impress <

posed as a doctor to gain access to the ward

> II. noun Date: 1818 1. a sustained posture; especially one assumed for artistic effect 2. an attitude, role, or characteristic assumed for effect Synonyms: pose, air, airs, affectation, mannerism mean an adopted way of speaking or behaving. pose implies an attitude deliberately assumed in order to impress others <

her shyness was just a pose

>. air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life <

a traveler's sophisticated air

>. airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness <

snobbish airs

>. affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere <

the posh accent is an affectation

>. mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit <

gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

>. III. transitive verb (posed; posing) Etymology: short for earlier appose, from Middle English apposen, alteration of opposen to oppose Date: 1593 puzzle, baffle