attitudinize

The English word attitude was first used in the 17th century to refer to the way a sculptured or painted figure was positioned—that is, to its posture. The word was borrowed from French, which had taken the word from Italian attitudine, meaning "aptitude." Eventually, the word moved from artistic representation to the real world, with attitude being also used for the postures a person might assume for a specific purpose, or effect—be those purposes sincere or not. By the mid-18th century, the word attitudinarian had been coined to label those in the habit of practicing such attitudes—those we might also call poseurs. By the end of that same century the word attitudinize was available for complaints about such behavior.