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

It's a consequence of fair laws and practices that aren’t “of color” or “white” and that does not make your racial physiognomy or surname a signal that you're the bearer of “culture” which you may not actually identify with.

From Salon

Last year, Maria Nadali, the mayor of Sifnos, urged the Greek government to put the brakes on “dizzying” tourist development — including banning the construction of further private swimming pools and “cave houses” built into mountain slopes, a trend that she said was altering the island’s “morphology and unique architectural physiognomy.”

From New York Times

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

Strayer’s translation takes this on within the context of English-language literature, expanding its capacity to hold such miscellany as the physiognomy of a suburban French superstore, the language of its promotions and instructions to the customer, together with a packet of Milical cookies, a wedge of Reblochon.

From Washington Post

Physiognomy is destiny, in show business even more than in normal life, and Reddick wasn’t built to play weakness.

From Los Angeles Times