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Definition of physiognomies - 2 dictionary results

phys⋅i⋅og⋅no⋅my

  [fiz-ee-og-nuh-mee, -on-uh-mee]
Use physiognomies in a Sentence
–noun, plural -mies.
1. the face or countenance, esp. when considered as an index to the character: a fierce physiognomy.
2. Also called anthroposcopy. the art of determining character or personal characteristics from the form or features of the body, esp. of the face.
3. the outward appearance of anything, taken as offering some insight into its character: the physiognomy of a nation.
Origin:
1350–1400; earlier phisognomie, phisiognomie, late ME phisonomie < ML physionomia, physonomia < LGk physiognōmía, syncopated var. of Gk physiognōmonía art of judging a person by his features (see physio-, gnomon, -y 3 ); r. ME fisenamie, fisnamie, fisnomie < MF fisonomie < ML, as above; cf. phiz

Related forms:
phys⋅i⋅og⋅nom⋅ic  [fiz-ee-og-nom-ik, ‑ee-uh-nom‑] , phys⋅i⋅og⋅nom⋅i⋅cal, phys⋅i⋅og⋅no⋅mon⋅ic  [fiz-ee-og-nuh-mon-ik, ‑on-uh‑] , 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, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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phys·i·og·no·my   (fĭz'ē-ŏg'nə-mē, -ŏn'ə-mē)   
n.   pl. phys·i·og·no·mies
    1. The art of judging human character from facial features.
    2. Divination based on facial features.
    3. Facial features, especially when regarded as revealing character.
    4. Aspect and character of an inanimate or abstract entity: the physiognomy of New England.
    1. Facial features, especially when regarded as revealing character.
    2. Aspect and character of an inanimate or abstract entity: the physiognomy of New England.

[Middle English phisonomie, from Old French phisionomie, from Late Latin physiognōmia, from Greek phusiognōmiā, variant of phusiognōmoniā : phusio-, physio- + gnōmōn, gnōmon-, interpreter; see gnō- in Indo-European roots.]
phys'i·og·nom'ic (-ŏg-nŏm'ĭk, -ə-nŏm'ĭk), phys'i·og·nom'i·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj., phys'i·og·nom'i·cal·ly adv., phys'i·og'no·mist n.
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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