physiognomy
Plural: physiognomies
Noun
- the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British)
- 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.
- The art of telling fortunes by inspection of the features.
- The general appearance or aspect of a thing, without reference to its scientific characteristics.
Examples
- "the physiognomy of a plant; of a meteor"
Origin / Etymology
Inherited from Middle English phisonomie, from Anglo-Norman phisenomie, Middle French phisonomie et al., ultimately from Late Latin physiognomia, from Ancient Greek φυσιογνωμία (phusiognōmía, “physiology”), from φύσις (phúsis, “physique, appearance”) + γνώμη (gnṓmē, “means of knowing”). 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.
Scrabble Score: 25
physiognomy is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL wordphysiognomy is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
physiognomy is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 26
physiognomy is a valid Words With Friends word