Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
complexion - 6 dictionary results

com⋅plex⋅ion

[kuhm-plek-shuhn]
–noun
1. the natural color, texture, and appearance of the skin, esp. of the face: a clear, smooth, rosy complexion.
2. appearance; aspect; character: His confession put a different complexion on things.
3. viewpoint, attitude, or conviction: one's political complexion.
4. (in old physiology) constitution or nature of body and mind, regarded as the result of certain combined qualities.
5. Obsolete. nature; disposition; temperament.


Origin:
1300–50; ME < ML complexiōn- (s. of complexiō) constitution, temperament, L: combination, group, lit., the act of embracing. See complex, -ion


com⋅plex⋅ion⋅al, adjective
com⋅plex⋅ion⋅al⋅ly, adverb
com·plex·ion   (kəm-plěk'shən)   
n.  
  1. The natural color, texture, and appearance of the skin, especially of the face.
  2. General character, aspect, or appearance: findings that will alter the complexion of the problem.
  3. A viewpoint, inclination, or attitude: a conservative political complexion.
  4. The combination of the four humors of cold, heat, moistness, and dryness in specific proportions, thought in ancient and medieval physiology to control the temperament and the constitution of the body.

[Middle English complexioun, physical constitution, from Old French complexion, from Late Latin complexiō, complexiōn-, balance of the humors, from Latin, combination, from complexus, past participle of complectī, to entwine; see complect.]
com·plex'ion·al adj.

Complexion

Com*plex"ion\ (k[o^]m*pl[e^]k"sh[u^]n), n. [F. complexion, fr. L. complexio. See Complex, a.]

1. The state of being complex; complexity. [Obs.]

Though the terms of propositions may be complex, yet . . . it is properly called a simple syllogism, since the complexion does not belong to the syllogistic form of it. --I. Watts.

2. A combination; a complex. [Archaic]

This paragraph is . . . a complexion of sophisms. --Coleridge.

3. The bodily constitution; the temperament; habitude, or natural disposition; character; nature. [Obs.]

If his complexion incline him to melancholy. --Milton.

It is the complexion of them all to leave the dam. --Shak.

4. The color or hue of the skin, esp. of the face.

Tall was her stature, her complexion dark. --Wordsworth.

Between the pale complexion of true love, And the red glow of scorn and proud disdain. --Shak.

5. The general appearance or aspect; as, the complexion of the sky; the complexion of the news.
Language Translation for : complexion
Spanish: tez,
German: der Teint,
Japanese: 顔色

complexion 
1340, from O.Fr. complexion, "combination of humors," hence "temperament," from L. complexionem (nom. complexio) "combination," from complexus (see complex). Meaning "appearance of the skin of the face" is first recorded c.1450. In medieval physiology, the color of the face indicated temperament.

Main Entry: com·plex·ion
Pronunciation: k&m-'plek-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : the combination of the hot, cold, moist, and dryqualities held in medieval physiology to determine the quality of a body
2 : the hue or appearance of the skin and especially of the face complexion> —com·plex·ioned /-sh&nd/ adjective

complexion com·plex·ion (kəm-plěk'shən)
n.
The natural color, texture, and appearance of the skin, especially of the face.

Search another word or see complexion on Thesaurus | Reference
>