yvlog

Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

physiognomy

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

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.



physiognomy

/ 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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • physiognomic, adjective
  • ˌˈDzԴdz, noun
  • ˌDzˈԴdz, adverb
Discover More

Other yvlog Forms

  • ··Dz·Դdz· [fiz-ee-og-, nom, -ik, ‑ee-, uh, -, nom, ‑], i·Dz·Դdzi· ··Dz·Դ·Dz· [fiz-ee-og-n, uh, -, mon, -ik, ‑-on-, uh, ‑], i·Dzn·Dzi· adjective
  • i·Dz·Դdzi··ly i·Dzn·Dzi··ly adverb
  • i·Dzn· noun
Discover More

yvlog History and Origins

Origin of physiognomy1

1350–1400; earlier phisognomie, phisiognomie, late Middle English phisonomie < Medieval Latin physionomia, physonomia < Late Greek Dzōí, syncopated variant of Greek DzōDzí 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
Discover More

yvlog History and Origins

Origin of physiognomy1

C14: from Old French phisonomie, via Medieval Latin, from Late Greek ܲDzō, erroneous for Greek ܲDzōDzԾ, from phusis nature + ōō judge
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Eliza, who does not seem to belong there at all, is also hot — hotter than Petey’s former best friend, for even in cartoons, physiognomy is destiny.

From

“Although Hall never resorts to a cliched impersonation, his suggestion of Nixon’s physiognomy is frequently uncanny, especially in profile.”

From

But a wondrous portrait of one Simon George, a little-known nobleman from Cornwall, displays Holbein’s incredible ability to forge an individual likeness through both physiognomy and symbols.

From

She and Bardem are both miscast, but Kidman is a particularly off fit for Ball, whose physical dexterity and ductile physiognomy, her rubber-band mouth and astonished eyes, are imprinted in our collective brain.

From

But I liked his physiognomy even less than before: it struck me as being at the same time unsettled and inanimate.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement