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View synonyms for physiognomy

physiognomy

[ fiz-ee-og-nuh-mee, -on-uh-mee ]

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.



physiognomy

/ ˌfɪzɪəˈnɒmɪk; ˌfɪzɪˈɒnəmɪ /

noun

  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


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Derived Forms

  • ˌphysiˈognomist, noun
  • physiognomic, adjective
  • ˌphysiogˈnomically, adverb

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Other Words From

  • 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-n, uh, -, 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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of physiognomy1

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 ( physio-, gnomon, -y 3 ); replacing Middle English fisenamie, fisnamie, fisnomie < Middle French fisonomie < Medieval Latin, as above; phiz

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Word History and Origins

Origin of physiognomy1

C14: from Old French phisonomie, via Medieval Latin, from Late Greek phusiognōmia, erroneous for Greek phusiognōmonia, from phusis nature + gnōmōn judge

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Example Sentences

The nude of the 19th century was often a tool for anatomical study: an intellectualized and idealized approach to physiognomy.

As George Eliot says: “We get the fonder of our houses if they have a physiognomy of their own, as our friends have.”

His legs are thin, his tail bare, his physiognomy dark, and his skin as black as his hair.

I find, for one thing, she had given much of her physiognomy to the Friedrich now born.

Hollister, however, had not come there to make a study of Mr. Lewis' physiognomy or manner.

One finds in Van Dyck no such expressively nervous physiognomy.

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physiocratphysiographic province