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janus-faced

 - 2 dictionary results

Ja⋅nus-faced

[jey-nuhs-feyst]
–adjective
1. having two faces, one looking forward, one looking backward, as the Roman deity Janus.
2. having two contrasting aspects, as the alternation of mood in a capricious person.
3. two-faced; deceitful.
4. aware of or concerned with polarities; seeing different and contrasting aspects: a Janus-faced view of history.
5. having or containing contrasting characteristics: a Janus-faced policy.

Origin:
1675–85
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To janus-faced
Ja·nus-faced   (jā'nəs-fāst')   
adj.  Hypocritical.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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