physiognomy
[ fiz-ee-og-nuh-mee, -on-uh-mee ]
/ ˌfɪz iˈɒg nə mi, -ˈɒn ə mi /
noun, plural phys·i·og·no·mies.
the face or countenance, especially when considered as an index to the character: a fierce physiognomy.
Also called anthroposcopy.
the art of determining character or personal characteristics from the form or features of the body, especially of the face.
the outward appearance of anything, taken as offering some insight into its character: the physiognomy of a nation.
Origin of physiognomy
1350–1400; earlier
phisognomie, phisiognomie, late Middle English
phisonomie < Medieval Latin
physionomia, physonomia < Late Greek
physiognōmía, syncopated variant of Greek
physiognōmonía art of judging a person by his features (see
physio-,
gnomon,
-y3); replacing Middle English
fisenamie, fisnamie, fisnomie < Middle French
fisonomie < Medieval Latin, as above; cf.
phiz
OTHER WORDS FROM physiognomy
phys·i·og·nom·ic [fiz-ee-og-nom-ik, ‐ee-uh-nom‐] /ˌfɪz i ɒgˈnɒm ɪk, ‐i əˈnɒm‐/, phys·i·og·nom·i·cal, phys·i·og·no·mon·ic [fiz-ee-og-nuh-mon-ik, ‐on-uh‐] /ˌfɪz iˌɒg nəˈmɒn ɪk, ‐ˌɒn ə‐/, phys·i·og·no·mon·i·cal, adjective phys·i·og·nom·i·cal·ly, phys·i·og·no·mon·i·cal·ly, adverb phys·i·og·no·mist, nounWords nearby physiognomy
Example sentences from the Web for physiognomies
British Dictionary definitions for physiognomies
physiognomy
/ (ˌfɪzɪˈɒnəmɪ) /
noun
a person's features or characteristic expression considered as an indication of personality
the art or practice of judging character from facial features
the outward appearance of something, esp the physical characteristics of a geographical region
Derived forms of physiognomy
physiognomic (ˌfɪzɪəˈnɒmɪk) or physiognomical, adjective physiognomically, adverb physiognomist, nounWord Origin for physiognomy
C14: from Old French
phisonomie, via Medieval Latin, from Late Greek
phusiognōmia, erroneous for Greek
phusiognōmonia, from
phusis nature +
gnōmōn judge
Medical definitions for physiognomies
physiognomy
[ fĭz′ē-ŏg′nə-mē, -ŏn′ə-mē ]
n.
Facial features, especially when considered as an indicator of character or as a factor in diagnosis.
Estimation of one's character and mental qualities by a study of the face and general bodily carriage.