Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

physiognomy


Definition of physiognomy

noun (plural physiognomies)

  • a person’s facial features or expression, especially when regarded as indicative of character or ethnic origin: friends began to notice a change in his physiognomy
  • [mass noun] the supposed art of judging character from facial characteristics: a world where physiognomy was a respected practice
  • the general form or appearance of something:the physiognomy of the landscape

Derivatives

physiognomic

Pronunciation: /-zɪəˈnɒmɪk/

adjective

physiognomical


adjective

physiognomically


adverb

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French phisonomie, via medieval Latin from Greek phusiognōmonia 'judging of a man's nature (by his features)', based on gnōmōn 'a judge, interpreter'

physiognomy in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of physiognomy in the US English dictionary
  |  Cite

Word of the day

merrythought

/ /
noun
the wishbone of a bird …