attitude English · revision 4401

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1668|origins=la aptitudo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈæt.ɪ.tʃuːd/, US /ˈæt̬.ə.tuːd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|attitude]] (17th century),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[it|attitudine|t=fitness, disposition, posture]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[la-lat|aptitūdō|alt=aptitudinem|t=fitness]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from Latin aptus “joined, fitted”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) the source of [[apt]], and it is a doublet of [[aptitude]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster Unabridged notes that the Italian meaning was influenced by atto “act”.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the fine arts, the posture of a figure in a statue or painting: 1668, introduced by John Evelyn,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) 1695 in Barnhart's quotation from Dryden's translation of Du Fresnoy.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Defoe extended it in 1725 to a posture of the body implying a mental state,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and it was used figuratively of things from 1744.^(OED 1989) In dancing a posture, a form of arabesque, is from 1721.^(OED 1989) Carlyle extended it in 1837 to settled behaviour that reflects feeling or opinion,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and Herbert Spencer's ''attitude of mind'' is from 1862.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Barnhart notes that these later meanings had all belonged earlier to aptitude, “disposition, likelihood”.^(Barnhart 1988) The orientation of an aircraft is from 1910.^(OED 1989) Connotations of being antagonistic or uncooperative developed in slang by 1962.^(Etymonline) Johnson in 1755 defined it only as “the posture or action in which a statue or painted figure is placed”.^(Johnson 1755)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1668 – posture in art.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1721 – in dancing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1725 – a bodily posture.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1837 – a settled manner of acting.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1862 – ''attitude of mind''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1910 – of aircraft.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1962 – antagonism.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A way of thinking or feeling about something; a [[disposition]]: ''a positive attitude''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A position of the body, or a way of carrying oneself; a [[posture]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' An uncooperative or defiant manner.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The orientation of an [[aircraft]] or spacecraft relative to a reference line or its direction of motion.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(ballet)'' A position in which one leg is raised behind with the knee bent.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[attitudinal]]

+ * [[attitudinarian]]

+ * [[attitudinize]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[aptitude]]

+ * [[apt]]

+ * [[adapt]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The Century Dictionary, quoted by Etymonline, called attitude more artistic than posture, and often affected, whence attitudinizing.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}