physiognomy
Use Physiognomy in a sentence
iˈɒg noun, plural phys·i·og·no·mies.
1.
the face or countenance, especially 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, especially 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 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
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
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
[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. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To physiognomy
00:10
Physiognomy
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
physiognomy (ˌfɪzɪˈɒnəmɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a person's features or characteristic expression considered as an indication of personality |
| 2. | the art or practice of judging character from facial features |
| 3. | the outward appearance of something, esp the physical characteristics of a geographical region |
| [C14: from Old French phisonomie, via Medieval Latin, from Late Greek phusiognōmia, erroneous for Greek phusiognōmonia, from phusis nature + gnōmōn judge] | |
| physiognomic | |
| —adj | |
| physiog'nomical | |
| —adj | |
| physiog'nomically | |
| —adv | |
| physi'ognomist | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
physiognomy
late 14c., "art of judging characters from facial features," from L.L. physiognomia, from Gk. physiognomia "the judging of a person's nature by his features," from physio-, comb. form of physis "nature" (see physic) + gnomon (gen. gnomonos) "judge, indicator."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
physiognomy phys·i·og·no·my (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.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia
physiognomy
the study of the systematic correspondence of psychological characteristics to facial features or body structure. Because most efforts to specify such relationships have been discredited, physiognomy sometimes connotes pseudoscience or charlatanry. Physiognomy was regarded by those who cultivated it both as a mode of discriminating character by the outward appearance and as a method of divination from form and feature.
Learn more about physiognomy with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The journalist who compared her facial physiognomy to that of a cigar store wooden Indian wasn't far off.
But the physiognomy alone was not enough to prove a match.
His face, not yet entirely craggy, revealed traces of the handsome physiognomy of his youth.
His physiognomy underwent a complete change.
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
