Po-sĭ'tion, n.

(po-zĭsh'un), n. [Lat. positio, fr. ponere, positum, to put, place; Fr. position, Pr. posicio, Sp. posicion, It. posizione.]

1Sense 1. The state of being posited, or placed; the manner in which any thing is placed; attitude; condition; as, a firm, inclined, or upright position.

We have different prospects of the same thing, according to our different positions to it. Locke.

2Sense 2. The spot where a person or thing is placed; site; situation; as, the position of man; the position of a fleet or an army.

3Sense 3. Hence, the place where one plants himself; the ground which any one takes in an argument, or with reference to a contested claim or interest; the point of view from which any one proceeds to a discussion; as, to define one's position; to be in a false position.

4Sense 4. Hence, also, a principle laid down as the basis of reasoning; a proposition to be defended or reasoned out; a thesis.

Let not the proof of any position depend on the positions that follow, but always on those which precede. Watts.

5Sense 5. Relative place or standing in society; social rank. Thackeray.

6Sense 6. (Gram.) The state of a vowel placed before two consonants, as o in pomp, or before a double consonant, as a in axis. In classical prosody, vowels thus situated are said to be long by position.

7Sense 7. (Arith.) A method of solving a problem by one or two suppositions; — called also the rule of trial and error.

8Sense 8. (Mil.) A space of ground.

Angle of position (Astron.), the angle which any line, as that joining two stars, makes with another fixed line, specifically with a circle of declination. — Double position (Arith.), the method of solving problems by proceeding with each of two assumed numbers, according to the conditions of the problem, and by comparing the difference of the results with those of the numbers, deducting the correction to be applied to one of them to obtain the true result. — Position micrometer, a micrometer for measuring angles of position, having a single thread or wire, which is carried round the common focus of the object-glass and eye-glass, and in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the telescope, the angle being indicated on the graduated tin of the instrument. — Single position (Arith.), the method of solving problems, in which the result obtained by operating with an assumed number is to the true result as the number assumed is to the number required. — Strategic position (Mil.), one taken up by an army or a large detachment for the purpose of checking or observing an opposing force. — Tactical position, a field of battle.

Synonyms— Situation; station; place; condition; attitude; posture; proposition; assertion; thesis.