Po*si"tion (?), v. t. To indicate the position of; to place. [R.]
Encyc. Brit.
Po*si"tion (?), n. [F. position, L. positio, fr. ponere, positum, to put, place;
prob. for posino, fr. an old preposition used only in comp. (akin to Gr. &?;) + sinere to leave, let,
permit, place. See Site, and cf. Composite,
Compound, v., Depone, Deposit, Expound,
Impostor, Opposite, Propound, Pose,
v., Posit, Post,
n.]
1.
The state of being posited, or placed; the manner in which anything is placed; attitude; condition; as, a firm, an inclined, or an upright position.
We have different prospects of the same thing, according to our different positions to
it.
Locke.
2. The spot where a
person or thing is placed or takes a place; site; place; station; situation; as, the position of man in creation; the fleet changed its position.
3.
Hence: The ground which any one takes in
an argument or controversy; the point of
view from which any one
proceeds to a discussion; also, a principle laid down as the basis of reasoning; a proposition; a thesis; as, to
define one's position; to appear in
a false position.
Let not the proof of any
position depend on the positions that follow, but always on
those which go before.
I. Watts. 4. Relative place or standing; social or official rank; as, a person of position; hence, office; post; as, to lose one's position.
5.
(Arith.) A method of solving a problem by one or two
suppositions; -- called also the
rule of trial and error.
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, deducing the correction to be applied to one
of them to obtain the true result. -- Guns of position (Mil.),
heavy fieldpieces, not
designed for quick
movements. -- Position finder (Mil.), a range finder. See under Range. -- Position micrometer,
a micrometer applied to the tube of an astronomical telescope for measuring angles of position in the field
of view. -- 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.), a
position taken up by an army or a large detachment of troops for the purpose of checking or observing an opposing force.
Syn. --
Situation; station; place; condition; attitude; posture; proposition; assertion; thesis.
Hear it pronounced