physiognomy

American  

[fiz-ee-og-nuh-mee, -on-uh-mee] / ˌfɪz iˈɒg nə mi, -ˈɒn ə mi /

noun

plural

physiognomies

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.

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physiognomy British  

/ ˌfɪzɪˈɒnəmɪ, ˌfɪzɪəˈnɒmɪk /

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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Other Word Forms

• physiognomic
  adjective
• physiognomical
  adjective
• physiognomically
  adverb
• physiognomist
  noun
• physiognomonic
  adjective
• physiognomonical
  adjective
• physiognomonically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of physiognomy

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

Explanation

The word physiognomy means the appearance of someone's face. When traveling in Italy, you may be struck by the pleasing physiognomy of the marble statues sculpted during the Renaissance. The reason physiognomy sounds like it should be something you study in school right after biology, geometry, and astronomy is that people used to think that it was a science by which you could tell someone's character through their facial features. If you've ever read any Nancy Drew stories, you will know how this plays out — anyone with "shifty eyes" is not to be trusted.

Example Sentences

Physiognomy is destiny, in show business even more than in normal life, and Reddick wasn’t built to play weakness.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2023

Physiognomy, the practice of determining a person’s character from their face, has a history that stretches back to ancient Greece.

From The Guardian • Jul. 7, 2018

The News added: Physiognomy and its practice dates back to the ancient Greece but was abandoned later.

From New York Times • Feb. 26, 2010

Numismata, a Discourse of Medals; to which is added, A Digression concerning Physiognomy.

From Sylva, Vol. 1 (of 2) Or A Discourse of Forest Trees by Nisbet, John

This is evidently what commended him as a philosopher to Montaigne, as may be inferred from some hints which follow immediately upon the comparison between Seneca and Plutarch in the essay on "Physiognomy."

From The Function of the Poet and Other Essays by Lowell, James Russell