Janus-faced

[ jey-nuhs-feyst ]

adjective

1. having two faces, one looking forward, one looking backward, as the Roman deity Janus.
2. having two contrasting aspects, as the alternation of mood in a capricious person.
3. two-faced; deceitful.
4. aware of or concerned with polarities; seeing different and contrasting aspects:

   a Janus-faced view of history.

5. having or containing contrasting characteristics:

   a Janus-faced policy.

Janus-faced

adjective

1. two-faced; hypocritical; deceitful

Word History and Origins

Origin of Janus-faced¹

First recorded in 1675–85; Janus ( def ) + faced ( def )