pose

Meanings

Noun

• Common cold, head cold; catarrh.
• Position, posture, arrangement (especially of the human body).
• Affectation.

Verb

• To place in an attitude or fixed position, for the sake of effect.
• To ask; to set (a test, quiz, riddle, etc.).
• To constitute (a danger, a threat, a risk, etc.).
• To falsely impersonate (another person or occupation) primarily for the purpose of accomplishing something or reaching a goal.
• To assume or maintain a pose; to strike an attitude.
• To behave affectedly in order to attract interest or admiration.
• To interrogate; to question.
• To question with a view to puzzling; to embarrass by questioning or scrutiny; to bring to a stand.
• To ask (someone) questions; to interrogate.
• to puzzle, non-plus, or embarrass with difficult questions.
• To perplex or confuse (someone).

Origin

• From Middle English pose, from Old English ġeposu, from Old English pos, ġepos, from Proto-Germanic *pusą, from Proto-Germanic *pusōną, *pusjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *bew-. Compare Low German pusten, German dialectal pfausen, Norwegian dialectal pysa.
• From Middle English posen, from Old French poser, from Vulgar Latin pauso ("to blin, cease, pause"), from Latin pausa, from Ancient Greek παῦσις; influenced by Latin pono. pause.
• From Middle English posen, a combination of aphetic forms of Middle English aposen and opposen. More at appose, oppose.