portamento

posture

noun por-tah-MEN-toh Rare

Also means

bearing

Usage Note

Portamento denotes the way a person holds and carries their body — erect posture or dignified bearing (avere un buon portamento). In music, the word is borrowed into English as a technical term for gliding between notes. The plural i portamenti is used in both senses. Do not confuse with comportamento (behaviour).

Examples

"Ha un portamento elegante e sicuro."

Natural Translation

She has an elegant and confident bearing.

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