postulate 
lying In a plane are met by another line, making the nun 
of the Internal angle* on one side leu than two right 
(Ogle*, then thoae straight lines will meet, If sufnri'-ntly 
produced, on the side on which the turn of the angles Is 
le*> than two right anglei. See azimn. 
TIs a postulate to me that Methusalcm wan the longest 
lived of all the children of Adam. 
Sir T. Browne, Rellglo Medici, i. 22. 
When you assume a premise without demonstrating it, 
though It be really demuiiitrablc, this, If the learner is fa- 
vorable and willing to grant It, Is an assumption or hypoth- 
eals valid relatively to him alone, but not valid absolutely : If 
he Is reluctant or adverse, It is a populate, hich you claim 
whether he Is satisfied or not Grate, Aristotle, vii. 
3. A self-evident practical proposition, to the 
effect that something is possible: opposed to an 
iij-iniH. as a self-evident proposition that some- 
thing is impossible. The fourth and fifth of Euclid's 
postulates (see def. 2) being converted into axioms In the 
modern editions, and his proved propositions being distin- 
guished into theorems and probfemi 
of a postulate naturally arose. 
Before the injunction Do this, there necessarily comes 
the postulate It can be done. //. Spencer, Social Statics. 
4. A condition for the accomplishment of any- 
thing. 
The earnestness with which peace is Insisted on as a 
postulate of civic well-being shows what the experience 
had been out of which Dante had constructed his theory. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 2d ser, p. 29. 
postulated (pos'tu-lat), a. [< L. postulate, pp. : 
see postulate, r.J' Postulated; assumed. 
And If she [Nature] ever gave that boon 
To man, 111 prove that I nave one : 
I mean, Inpmtulatr Illation [that is. begging the question). 
S. Butler, Hudibras, II. I. 763. 
postulation (pos-tu-la'shon), n. [< F. postu- 
lation = Sp. postutacion = Pg. postulafSo = It. 
postulazioiie, < L. postulatio(n-), a demanding, 
\postulare, demand: see postulate, .] 1. Sup- 
plication; prayer. [Rare.] 
Presenting his population* at the throne of God. 
Bp. Pearson, Expos, of Creed. (Latham.) 
2. The act of postulating, or assuming without 
proof; supposition; assumption. 
I must have a second postulation, that must have an In- 
gredient to elicit my assent, namely, the veracity of him 
that reports and relates It. 
Sir M. ll'ii. . Orlg. of Mankind, p. 129. 
3. In ecrles. law, the presentation or election 
to any office of one who is in some way dis- 
qualified for the appointment. 
By this means the cardinals population was defective, 
since he had not two-thirds (of the voices]. 
/;/-. llurnrt, Hist. Own Time, an. 16S8. 
Nicolas IV. ordered that all postidations, that is, elec- 
tions of personsdlsqualifted, Including translations, should 
be personally sued out at Kome. 
fit uliot, Const. Hist, 5 383, note. 
postulatory (pos'tu-la-to-ri), a. [= Pg. It.pos- 
tulatorio, < L. postulatoriiis, < postulator, one 
who demands or claims, < postttla re, demand: 
see postulate, t'.] 1. Supplicatory. [Rare.] 
He easily recovers the courage to turn that deprecatory 
prayer into a postulatury one. 
Clarendon, Tracts, 392. (Latham.) 
2. Postulating; assuming without proof. Joint- 
arm. 3. Assumed without proof. Sir T. Browne, 
Vulg. Err., ii. 6. 
postulatum (pos-tu-la'tum), .; pi. postulate 
(-tft). [L. : see postulate, n.] A postulate. 
postumbonal (post-um'bo-nal), a. [< L.post, 
behind, + NL. umbn(n-), umbo : see tinibo."] In 
conch., situated behind the umbo. See Photos. 
postume't, . [ME.: seeapostem.] Same as iw- 
postume. Chaucer, ]{<i<"t liius, iii. prose 4. 
postume'^t, a. See postliumc. 
postural (pos'tu-rol),<j. [(posture + -al.] Per- 
taining or relating to posture: as, the postural 
treatment of a fractured limb. Duntjlison. 
posture (pos'tur), H. [Formerly also positure 
(< L.); < F. postiirr = Sp. poslura, positiira = 
Pg.postura = It.postiirn. )it>*it>tra, < HjDMftwra, 
position, posture: see positure.'] 1. Position; 
situation; condition; state: as, the posture of 
public affairs. 
This growing posturr of affairs Is fed by the natural de- 
pravity. Baton. Political Fable*, vilL, Kxpl. 
Concerning the Failure of Things here, we are still In- 
volved In a Cloud of Confusion, 'specially touching Church 
Matters. Ilotcell, Letters, iv. 44. 
They do speak very sorrowfully of the pasture of the 
times. Pepyt, Diary, III. 1W. 
Everybody clamored around the governor. Imploring him 
to put the city In a complete pntture of dcf- 
Irrintj, Knickerbocker, p. 223. 
2. The disposition of the several parts of any- 
thing with respect to one another, or with re- 
Bptct to a particular purpose; especially, posi- 
tion of the body as a whole, or of its members; 
attitude; pose. 
Some strange commotion 
l In hi* l.raln : he bite* hb> Up and start* ; 
4646 
Stops on a sudden ; . . . in most strange jxwtunt 
We have seen him set himself. 
Ska*., Hen. VIII., lit 2. 118. 
The statues of the Sibyls are very finely wrought, each 
of them In a different air and posture, as are likewise those 
of the prophets underneath them. 
Additon, Remarks on Italy (ed. Bonn), I. 409. 
3f. Disposition; attitude of mind. 
A good Christian . . . must always be in a travelling 
posture, and so taste sensual pleasures as one that Is about 
to leave them. Bp. Atterbury, Sermons, I. xi. 
= 8yn. 2. Petition, Posture, Attitude, Pose. These words 
agree In expressing the manner of standing, sitting, lying, 
etc. The first three may be nsed in a figurative sense: 
as, my position on that question is this ; his attitude was 
one of hostility to the measure. Position is the most gen- 
eral word, and Is applicable to persons or things. Posture 
is generally natural, and may be awkward. Altitude is gen- 
erally studied for the sake of looking graceful ; hence it is 
sometimes affected, the practice of it being then called at- 
litadiuiaiiii. An attitude is often taken Intentionally for 
the purpose of Imitation or exemplification ; generally ui- 
titude is more artistic than posture. Posture is generally 
used of the whole body ; attitude has more liberty in refer- 
ring to the parts of the body, especially the head ; but posi- 
tion is more common In such cases. Pote is now confined 
to artistic positions, taken generally for effect, of part or 
the whole of a body or representation of a body, as a statue 
or a picture. 
The absolute position of the parties has been altered ; 
the relative position remains unchanged. 
Maniulaii, War of the Succession In Spain. 
I have seen the goats on Mount Pentelicus scatter at 
the approach of a stranger, climb to the sharp points of 
projecting rocks, and attitudinize In the most self-con- 
scious manner, striking at once those picturesque postures 
against the sky with which Oriental pictures have made 
us ... familiar. C. D. Warner, In the Wilderness, iv. 
It is the business of a painter in his choice of attitudes 
to foresee the effect and harmony of the lights and shad- 
ows with the colours which are to enter into the whole. 
Dryden, tr. of Dufresnoy's Art of Fainting, i 4. 
Placed, . . . with the instinct of a finished artist, in the 
best light and most effective pose. 
Lathrop, Spanish Vistas, p. 108. 
posture (pos'tur), .; pret. and pp. postured, 
ppr. post urin g. [(posture, n.] I. trans. 1. To 
place; set. 
As pointed Diamonds, being set, 
Cast greater Lustre out of Jet, 
Those Pieces we esteem 'd most rare 
Which in Night-shadows postur'd are. 
HoweU, Letters, I. v. 22. 
2. To place in a particular attitude; dispose 
for a particular purpose. 
He was raw with posturiny himself according to the di- 
rection of the chlrurgeons. Brook. 
II. intrants. 1. To dispose the body in a par- 
ticularposture or attitude; put one's self in an 
artificial posture: specifically; to contort one's 
self. 
What Is meant by posturing is the distortion of the 
limbs, snch as doing the splits, and putting your leg over 
your head, and pulling It down your back, . . . and such 
like business. 
Mayhem, London Labour and London Poor, III. 98. 
2. To assume an artificial position of the mind 
or character; change the natural mental atti- 
tude; hence, to be affected; display affectation. 
Not proud humilities of sense 
knA posturing of penitence, 
But love's unforced obedience. 
H'hittier, The Meeting. 
She had forced her Intelligence to posture before her 
will, as the exigencies of her place required. 
0. W. Holmes, Elsie Venner, vlll. 
They are so affected! . . . Vou would say that they 
posture before the whole universe. 
E. Sehuyler, tr. of Turgenletf's Fathers and Sons, x. 
posture-maker (pos'tur-ma'ker), H. A con- 
tortionist; an acrobat. 
I would fain ask any of the present mlsmanagers why 
should not rope-dancers, vaulters, tumblers, ladderwalk- 
er&, and JMMflMMfttfr* appear again on our stage? 
Steele, Spectator, No. 268. 
posture-making (pos'tur -ma 'king), n. The 
art or practice of posturing, or making contor- 
tions of the body. 
Your comedy and mine will have been played then, and 
we shall be removed, O how far, from the trumpets, and 
the shouting, and the jmnture-inaHnffl 
Thackeray, Vanity Fair, Ixt 
posture-mastert (pos'tur-mas'ter), n. Same as 
posture-maker. 
Posture matters, as the acrobat* were then called, 
abounded, and one of the chief among them was Higglns, 
. . . who could dislocate and deform himself at pleasure. 
J. Athlon, Social Life In Kelgn of Queen Anne, I. 280. 
posturer (pos'tur-or), n. [< posture + -eri.] 
A posture-maker; an acrobat. 
posturist (pos'tur-ist), M. [< posture + -ist.] 
as /lo.vCwivr. 
post-Uterine (p6*t-u't.;-rin), a. [< L. post, be- 
hind, + uterus, uterus: see ufVrine.] Situated 
in-liiii'1 tlio uterus: retro-uterine. 
postvenet (post-ven'), v. t. [< I,, post, after, + 
i < nirr, come.] To come after. 
pot 
post ventional* (post-ven'shon-al), a. [< L./>of, 
after, + ventio(n-), a coming, <. venire, come: 
see postrene.'] Coming after. 
A postoentuinal change of the moon, I. e. a change that 
happens after some great movable feast, planetary aspect, 
appearance of A comet, etc. E. PhuUpt. 
postvermis (post-ver'mis), u. ; pi. postnermes 
(-mez). [NL., < L. post, behind, + NL. vtrmis, 
q. v.] The vermis inferior of the cerebellum, 
postvidet (post-vid'), r. . [< L. post, after, + 
riiti-re, see.] To take measures too late: op- 
posed to provide. 
" When the daughter Is stolen, shut Peppergate ; " . . . 
when men Instead of preventing postnde against dangers. 
Fuller, Worthies Chester, L 200. (Danes.) 
post- wagon (post 'wag 'on), n. A wagon for 
posting; a stage-wagon ; a diligence. 
We took our leave of those friends that had accompanied 
us thither, and began our journey in the common posl- 
wagon to Osnabrug, where we came the fourth day follow. 
Ing in the evening. 
Penn, Travels In Holland, etc. (Works, IIL 894). 
postward (post'ward), adv. [< post'* + -ward.] 
Toward the post, 
post-warrantt (post'wor'ant), . Aa official 
warrant for accommodation for one traveling 
by post; a passport. 
For better Assurance of Lodging where I pass, In regard 
of the Plague, I have a Post- Warrant as far as Saint David's : 
which is far enough, you will say, for the King hath no 
Ground further on this Island. HoweU, Letters, I. Iv. 23. 
post-windlass (post'wind'las), n. A winding- 
machine worked by brakes or handspikes which 
have a reciprocating movement. E. H. Knight. 
postzygapophysial (post-zi'gap-o-fiz'i-al), a. 
[< poat:ygapophysis + -?.] Posterior or inferior 
and zygapophysial or serving for articulation, 
as a process of a vertebra ; pertaining to a post- 
zygapophysis, or having its character. 
postzygapophysis (post-zi-ga-pof 'i-sis), n. ; pi. 
postcugapophyses (-sez). [NL., < L. post, after, 
+ NL. zygapophysis.'} In anat. and zool., an 
inferior or posterior zygapophysis; in man, an 
inferior oblique or articular process of a verte- 
bra : opposed to prezygapophysia. See cuts un- 
der lumbar, vertebra, dorsal, and endoskeleton. 
posy (po'zi), .; pi. posies (-ziz). [Contr. of 
poesy, q. v.] 1. A verse of poetry attached to 
or inscribed on a ring, knife, or other object ; 
hence, in general, a motto; an epigram; a le- 
gend; a short inscription. 
And the tente was replenyshed and decked with this 
/"'' : After busy labor commeth victorious rest 
Hall, Hen. V., an. 7. 
We call them [short epigrams] Fogies, and do paint them 
now a dayes vpon the backe sides of our fruite trenchers 
of wood, or vse them as deuises in rings and armes and 
about such courtly purposes. 
Puttenham, Arte of Bug. Poesie, p. 47. 
A hoop of gold, a paltry ring 
That she did give me, whose pogy was 
For all the world like cutler's poetry, 
Upon a knife, "Love me, and leave me not" 
Ska*., M. of V., v. 1. 148. 
2. A bunch of flowers, or a single flower; a 
nosegay; a bouquet. [Perhaps so called from 
the custom of sending verses with flowers as 
gifts.] 
And I will make thee beds of roses, 
And a thousand fragrant posies. 
Marlou-e, Passionate Shepherd to his Love. 
Nature plck'd several flowers from her choice banks, 
And bound 'em up in thee, sending thee forth 
A posy for the bosom of a queen. 
Fletcher (and another). Queen of Corinth, 111. 1. 
V are the maiden posies, 
And so grac't 
To be plac't 
'Fore damask roses. Herrick, To Vloleto. 
A girl came with violet potiet, and two 
Gentle eyes, like her violets, freshened with dew. 
F. Locker, Mr. Placld's Flirtation. 
posy-ring (po'zi -ring), . A ring inscribed 
with a posy or short poetical motto, in some 
cases the posy consists of a single word formed by the In- 
itial letters of stones set around the ring. Also called 
chanton. 
pot 1 (pot), n. [< ME. pot, pottt, < AS. pott = 
OFries. pot = D. pot = MLQ. pot, put, LG. pot 
(>Q.pott) = leel.pottr = 8w. potta = Dan. i>ott< 
(cf. F. pot = Pr.pot = Sp. Pg. note , a pot. < 
Teut.). a pot; of Celtic origin: < Ir. )i<>tii, i>uiti 
= Gael, poit = W. pot = Bret, jiod, a pot ; iirob. 
orig. a drinking-vessel ; cf . Ir. potaim, I drink. 
h. /inttiri; drink: see potation.} 1. A vessel of 
earth, iron, brass, or other metal, usually of cir- 
cular section and in shape rather deep than 
broad, employed for domestic and other pur- 
poses, (a) A vessel used In cooking, generally made of 
metal. 
As the crackling of thorns under a put, so Is the laugh- 
ter of the fool. Kn-l. vll. fl. 
A little pal, and soon hot. Shalr. . T. of the 8., Iv. 1. 6. 
