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The posture of seizing; a state of preparation to lay hold of, or of watching he opportunity to seize; as, to lie on the catch. [Archaic] Addison. The common and the canon law . . . lie at catch, and wait advantages one againt another. T. Fuller.

or fraud; that which is the means of fraud or deception; a fraud; a trick; imposition; imposture. When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat. Dryden.

The act of prevailing over another by arts, address, or fraud; deception; fraud; imposture; delusion. A school in which he learns sly circumvention. Cowper.

; quiet; tranquil; self- possessed. The Mantuan there in sober triumph sate, Composed his posture, and his look sedate. Pope. -- Com*pos"ed*ly (, adv. -- Com*pos"ed*ness, n.

r, sir, the chance of war: the day Was yours by accident. Shak. England could grow into a posture of being more united at home, and more considered abroad. Sir W. Temple.

Lying down with the head raised, which distinguishes the posture of couchant from that of dormant, or sleeping; -- said of a lion or other beast. Couchant and levant (Law), rising up and lying down; -- said of beasts, and indicating that they have been long enough on land, not belonging to their owner, to lie down and…

An opposite or opposing view; opposition; a posture in which two persons front each other. Within the gates of hell sat Death and Sin, In counterview. Milton M. Peisse has ably advocated the counterview in his preface and appendixx. Sir W. Hamilton.

The act or posture of lying down. The ancient manner of decumbency. Sir T. Browne.

In a decumbent posture.

In a state or posture of defense. Milton.

Pertaining to, suited to, or used in, devotion; as, a devotional posture; devotional exercises; a devotional frame of mind.

Expressing devotion or piety; as, eyes devout; sighs devout; a devout posture. Milton.

Leaning; fitted for a reclining posture. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

To discharge; to explode. In posture to displode their second tire Of thunder. Milton.

Disposition; arrangement; position; posture. [Obs.] In a kind of warlike disposure. Sir H. Wotton.

To force or put out of the true posture or direction; to twist aside mentally or morally. Wrath and malice, envy and revenge, do darken and distort the understandings of men. Tillotson.

Different in kind or species; diverse. [Obs.] Every sect of them hath a divers posture. Bacon. Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds. Deut. xxii. 9.

In a sleeping posture; as, a lion dormant; -- distinguished from couchant. Dormant partner (Com.), a partner who takes no share in the active business of a company or partnership, but is entitled to a share of the profits, and subject to a share in losses; -- called also sleeping or silent partner. -- Dormant window (…

In an erect manner or posture.

Uprightness of posture or form.