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physiognomy
phys·i·og·no·my
[
fìzzee ógnəmee,
fìzzee ónnəmee
]
(
plural
phys·i·og·no·mies
)
noun
Definition:
1.
facial features:
the features of somebody's face, especially when they are used as indicators of that person's character or temperament
2.
judgment of character from facial features:
the use of facial features to judge somebody's character or temperament
3.
character or appearance of something:
the character or outward appearance of something, e.g. the physical features of a landscape
[
13th century. Via French< Greek
phusiognōmonia
<
phusis
"nature" (see
physics
) +
gnomon
"judge" (see
gnomon
)
]
phys·i·og·nom·ic
[
fìzzee og nómmik,
fìzzee ə nómmik
]
adjective
phys·i·og·nom·i·cal·ly
[
fìzzee og nómmikəlee
]
adverb
phys·i·og·no·mist
[
fìzzee ógnəmist
]
noun
Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
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