lineament

[ lin-ee-uh-muhnt ]

noun

1. Often lineaments. a feature or detail of a face, body, or figure, considered with respect to its outline or contour:

   His fine lineaments made him the very image of his father.

2. Usually lineaments. distinguishing features; distinctive characteristics:

   the lineaments of sincere repentance.

3. Geology. a linear topographic feature of regional extent that is believed to reflect underlying crustal structure.

lineament

/ ˌlɪnɪəˈmɛntəl; ˈlɪnɪəmənt /

noun

1. a facial outline or feature
2. a distinctive characteristic or feature
3. geology any long natural feature on the surface of the earth, such as a fault, esp as revealed by aerial photography

Derived Forms

• lineamental, adjective

Other Words From

• lin·e·a·men·tal [lin-ee-a-, men, -tl], adjective
• line·a·men·tation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lineament¹

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English, from Latin līneāmentum “a stroke, line (made with a pen, chalk, etc.)”; plural, “features, drawings,” equivalent to līneā(re) “to reduce to a straight line, draw or trace lines,” (derivative of līnea; line ¹ ) + -mentum -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of lineament¹

C15: from Latin: line, from līneāre to draw a line

Example Sentences

Every lineament of her beautiful features was tattooed indelibly on his memory; he knew she would haunt him forever.

From Project Gutenberg

What he did there is unknown, but when he issued forth his face was hard set, every lineament bearing the stamp of resolution.

From Project Gutenberg

It was not the living, laughing girl whom she had known—the stamp of death was set upon every fair lineament.

From Project Gutenberg

The old Indian looked silently at him for a moment, some mysterious, all-absorbing joy revealed in every lineament of his face.

From Project Gutenberg

Her face speaks in every lineament; theirs are rouged and wrinkled masks.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aspect
• attribute
• component
• essence
• flavor
• nature
• peculiarity
• personality
• quality
• style
• symptom
• temperament
• tendency
• tone
• virtue