attitude
attitude Lexical Profile
attitude Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically reflected in a person's behavior.
"Maintaining a positive attitude helped the research team overcome several unexpected setbacks."
Uncooperative, truculent, or arrogant behavior; a defiant or self-confident manner.
"When asked to revise the report, he responded with a great deal of attitude."
A position or posture of the body proper to or implying a particular action or mental state, including a classical ballet position in which one leg is raised behind or in front with the knee bent.
"The marble statue depicted the philosopher in an attitude of deep contemplation."
The orientation of an aircraft or spacecraft relative to the horizon, direction of travel, or another reference frame, controlled by pitch, roll, and yaw.
"The flight computer automatically adjusted the spacecraft's attitude prior to atmospheric reentry."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'attitude' (a mindset or physical orientation) with 'aptitude' (a natural ability or talent) or 'altitude' (height above sea level), all of which share similar Latin endings.
• Rhymes for attitude
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 17th century via French from Italian 'attitudine' (fitness, posture), from Late Latin 'aptitudo', making it an etymological doublet of 'aptitude'. It originally referred to the physical posture of a figure in painting or sculpture before evolving to mean a mental disposition.