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Origin and history of poser

poser(n.1)

"one who practices an affected attitude," 1881, agent noun from pose (v.1); revived in teenager slang by 1983.

poser(n.2)

"question that puzzles," 1793 from pose (v.2) or from apposer; earlier it meant "one who asks testing questions" (1580s). 

also from 1793

Entries linking to poser

pose(v.2)

"to puzzle, confuse, perplex," 1590s, earlier "to put questions to, interrogate closely" (1520s), probably from French poser "suppose, assume," from Old French poser "to put, place, set" (see pose (v.1)). Also in some cases a shortening of English appose "examine closely," and directly from oppose (of which appose was a variant). Related: Posed; posing.

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    model
    1570s, "likeness made to scale; architect's set of designs," from French modelle (16c., Modern French modèle), from Italian modello "a model, mold," from Vulgar Latin *modellus, from Latin modulus "a small measure, standard," diminutive of modus "manner, measure" (from PIE root *
    depose
    c. 1300, "to remove from office, especially from royalty," from Old French deposer (12c.), from de- "down" (see de-) + poser...
    dispose
    "arrange, order, control, regulate" (influenced in form by poser "to place"), from Latin disponere "put in order, arrange...
    transpose
    Form altered in French on model of poser "to put, place." Sense of "put music in a different key" is from c. 1600....
    suppose
    as the basis of argument," from Old French suposer "to assume" (13c.), probably a replacement (influenced by Old French poser...
    repose
    reposen, "to put (something) back;" perhaps from re- "back, again" + pose (v.) or so formed in Middle English from Old French poser...
    impose
    imposer "put, place; impute, charge, accuse" (c. 1300), from assimilated form of in- "into, in" (from PIE root *en "in") + poser...
    rickets
    disease caused by vitamin D deficiency, 1630s, of uncertain origin (see note in OED). Originally a local name for the disease in Dorset and Somerset, England. Some derive it from a Dorset word, rucket "to breathe with difficulty," but the sense connection is difficult. The Modern
    supporter
    early 15c., "adherent, partisan, one who upholds or helps to carry on the interests of another," agent noun from support (v.). Fem. form supportress is by 1620s. The meaning "that which sustains the weight of something else" physically (in ship-building, etc.) is from 1590s. As "
    help
    Old English helpan "to help, support, succor; benefit, do good to; cure, amend" (transitive, class III strong verb; past tense healp, past participle holpen), from Proto-Germanic *helpanan (source also of Old Norse hjalpa, Old Frisian helpa, Middle Dutch and Dutch helpen, Old Hig

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