physiognomy
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Inherited from Middle English phisonomie, from Anglo-Norman phisenomie, Middle French phisonomie et al., ultimately from Late Latin physiognomia, from Ancient Greek φυσιογνωμονία (phusiognōmonía, “the science or art of judging a man by his features”), from φύσις (phúsis, “physique, appearance”) + γνώμων (gnṓmōn, “one that knows or examines, an interpreter, discerner”).
Middle English phisonomie would regularly develop into *physnomy /ˈfɪznəmi/ (forms of this type are common in Early Modern English, such as fisnomie in All's Well that Ends Well); the modern spelling and pronunciation are due to learned influence.
Pronunciation edit
- (UK) IPA(key): /fɪziˈɒnəmi/, (obsolete) /fɪziˈɒɡnəmi/
Audio (Southern England) (file) - (US, Canada) IPA(key): /fɪziˈɑ(ɡ)nəmi/
Noun edit
physiognomy (countable and uncountable, plural physiognomies)
- The art or pseudoscience of deducing the predominant temper and other characteristic qualities of the mind from the outward appearance, especially from the features of the face.
- The face or countenance, with respect to the temper of the mind; particular configuration, cast, or expression of countenance, as denoting character.
- c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v], page 251, column 2:
- Faith ſir a has an Engliſh maine, but his fiſnomie is more hotter in France then there.
- The art of telling fortunes by inspection of the features.
- The general appearance or aspect of a thing, without reference to its scientific characteristics.
- the physiognomy of a plant; of a meteor
Synonyms edit
- See also Thesaurus:countenance
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
art or pseudoscience of deducing the character or personality from the bodily appearance
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countenance
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