stance

[ stans ]
/ stæns /

noun

the position or bearing of the body while standing: legs spread in a wide stance; the threatening stance of the bull.
a mental or emotional position adopted with respect to something: They assumed an increasingly hostile stance in their foreign policy.
Sports. the relative position of the feet, as in addressing a golf ball or in making a stroke.

Origin of stance

1525–35; < Old French estance (standing) position < Vulgar Latin *stantia, derivative of Latin stant- (stem of stāns), present participle of stāre to stand

Example sentences from the Web for stance

British Dictionary definitions for stance

stance
/ (stæns, stɑːns) /

noun

the manner and position in which a person or animal stands
sport the posture assumed when about to play the ball, as in golf, cricket, etc
general emotional or intellectual attitude a leftist stance
Scot a place where buses or taxis wait
mountaineering a place at the top of a pitch where a climber can stand and belay

Word Origin for stance

C16: via French from Italian stanza place for standing, from Latin stāns, from stāre to stand