attitude

Etymology

From French attitude, from Italian attitudine (“attitude, aptness”), from Medieval Latin aptitūdō (“aptitude”) and actitūdō (“acting, posture”), from Latin aptō and actitō. Doublet of aptitude.

noun

1. The position of the body or way of carrying oneself.
   The ballet dancer walked with a graceful attitude.
2. (figurative) Disposition or state of mind.
   Don't give me your negative attitude.
   You've got a nice attitude today.
3. (Canada, US, UK, informal) Unpleasant behavior.
   He doesn't take attitude from anybody.
   I asked the waiter for a clean fork and all I got was attitude.
   And if a nigga get a attitude / Pop it like it's hot 2004, “Drop It Like It's Hot”, performed by Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell Williams
4. (aeronautics, nautical, engineering) The orientation of a vehicle or other object relative to the horizon, direction of motion, other objects, etc.
   The airliner had to land with a nose-up attitude after the incident.
   The stern planes are located well aft of the center of gravity of the submarine and their primary purpose is attitude (trim) control 1982, Thomas Charles Gillmer, Bruce Johnson, Introduction to naval architecture, page 286
   Scratches should be closely analyzed to determine the attitudes of the boats at the time of initial contact. 1997, Paul J. Ciolino, Grace Elting Castle, Advanced Forensic Civil Investigations, page 109
   The main aim of the development of the smart antenna model is to stabilize attitude of the antenna which is mounted on a platform or host structure. 1999, Smart Materials Structures of Systems, page 307
5. (ballet) A position similar to arabesque, but with the raised leg bent at the knee.
   Blasis was a man of many accomplishments. He invented the ballet position of attitude and codified the ballet technique of that time, distinguishing three types of dancers: the serious, the demi-caractère, and the comic dancer. 2007, Gayle Kassing, History of Dance: An Interactive Arts Approach, page 134

verb

1. To assume or to place in a particular position or orientation; to pose.
   […] nymphs of quality, formed for the offices of love and of conversation, are attituded about her, each star set as it were in surrounding satellites of admirers;[…] 1823, Felix M'Donogh, The Hermit Abroad, volume 1, page 122
   Attituded like an inspired curling-tongs, leaning back heavily on his right leg, and throwing forward his left, his arm elevated to a level with his shoulder, the clenched fist grasping a brush that might have been available in […] 1837, William E. Burton, The Gentleman's Magazine, volume 1, page 123
   1971, American Astronautical Society, Advances in Astronautical Sciences, Volume 29, Part 2, page 395, The attituded control gyro package, electronics, APS gas supply, and the preentry electronics are mounted internally, and are distributed circumferentially at the major ring.
2. To express an attitude through one's posture, bearing, tone of voice, etc.
   He attituded his way over to me, got up close, and just stood there looking at me, trying to appear threatening. 2002, Wayne Normis, The Last Street Fighter, page 33
   The typical characteristic attituded toward the English is coldness. 2008, Yvonne Müller, "The Absentee": an Interpretation - an Analysis of Maria Edgeworth's Novel, page 12
   I was really tripping, 'cause this nigga had the nerve to be attituded up when he was the one always doing something he had no business doing. 2010, R. Scott, Nine Months and a Year Later, page 82