stance 
(stăns)
(stăns)n.
1. The attitude or position of a standing person or animal, especially the position assumed by an athlete preparatory to action. See Synonyms at posture.
2. A position or point of view: "Peru ... toughened its stance toward foreign investors" (Abraham Lowenthal).
[French, position, from Italian stanza, from Vulgar Latin *stantia, from Latin stāns, stant-, present participle of stāre, to stand; see stā- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]