physiognomy

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“
Yet what struck me most about his physiognomy was a tuft, of queer red hairs which he had under his chin, as well as, still more, a strange habit of continually unbuttoning his waistcoat and scratching his chest under his shirt Behind the table to which we were summoned sat three Professors, none of whom acknowledged our salutations.

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Definitions (10)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (4)

  1. noun The art of judging human character from facial features.
  2. noun Divination based on facial features.
  3. noun Facial features, especially when regarded as revealing character.
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Examples (50)

  • Yet what struck me most about his physiognomy was a tuft, of queer red hairs which he had under his chin, as well as, still more, a strange habit of continually unbuttoning his waistcoat and scratching his chest under his shirt Behind the table to which we were summoned sat three Professors, none of whom acknowledged our salutations. —  Youth
  • Did they perceive in his physiognomy, his true name, and authentic history? —  Historic Doubts Relative To Napoleon Buonaparte
  • A portrait of Columbus, said to be by the same master, is not like him, I am sure; for the physiognomy is vacant and disagreeable. —  The Diary of an Ennuyée
  • These lions of the Capitol are nobly peaceful, and their physiognomy is the true image of tranquillity in strength A guisa di leon, quando si posa DANTE In the manner of the lion, when he reposes. —  Corinne, Volume 1 (of 2) Or Italy
  • Its spiritual and intellectual physiognomy, and that of the university in general, must be learned from the exhaustive pages of Professor Masson. —  Life of John Milton
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Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English phisonomie, from Old French phisionomie, from Late Latin physiognōmia, from Greek phusiognōmiā, variant of phusiognōmoniā : phusio-, physio- + gnōmōn, gnōmon-, interpreter; see gnō- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Formerly also phisiognomie, also phisonomie, physonomy, physnomie, phisnomie, fisnomy, etc. (whence colloq. phiz, q. v.); from Middle English fysnomye, fisnomie, visnomie, fisnamy, fyssnamy, from Old French phisonomie, physonomie, physiognomie, French physionomie = Provencal phizonomia = Spanish fisonomía = Portuguese physionomia = Italian fisiognomia, fisionomia, fisonomia, from Middle Latin *physiognomia, phisionomia, phisonomia, from Middle Greek φυσιογνωμία, late and incorrect form of Greek φυσιογνωμονία, the art of judging a man by his features, from φυσιογνώμων, judging by features, from φύσις, nature, + γνώμων, a judge, interpreter: see gnomon.
 

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/fɪzɪˈɑgnəmi/
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