The etymology of the word “attitude” is fascinating to look at. The current definition of the word in the English language might look like this:
Definition (n.): personal view of something:
manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, esp. of the mind: a negative attitude; group attitudes.
But it’s very interesting to see how that word and it’s current context has been shaped by it’s etymological lineage –and how we can gain a brave new perspective on our own attitude just by understanding what our attitude really is. According to Wikipedia, the word attitude was a word we borrowed from the French dating back into the 17th Century, which the French had borrowed from the Italian word “attitudine”. At that time, the word was often used in the context of describing the perceived posture or body language of an object seen in a piece of art. That context of the word is still used today in the English translation, as in “it’s obvious in looking at him that he has a poor attitude”.
Like so many words, the original root of the word actually comes from a combination of two Latin words: “aptitudinem” –meaning aptitude, and “aptus” –meaning adapted, ready, apt.
Giving consideration to the root of the word Attitude, it’s interesting to then look at our own attitude. How adapted are we to the changes in the landscapes of our own lives? How ready are we for the challenges that face us today? How apt are we to make good on our promises –to ourselves and to others. And with that, our aptitudes often become defined by our attitudes.
The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.” –William James
