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

/ 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

Derived Forms

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

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

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

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

Example Sentences

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 Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

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 New York Times

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 New York Times

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

From Literature