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Definition of Physiognomy
1. Noun. The human face ('kisser' and 'smiler' and 'mug' are informal terms for 'face' and 'phiz' is British).
Group relationships: Human Head
Generic synonyms: Face, Human Face
Specialized synonyms: Pudding Face, Pudding-face
Language type: Colloquialism
Geographical relationships: Britain, Great Britain, U.k., Uk, United Kingdom, United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Northern Ireland
Derivative terms: Smile
Definition of Physiognomy
1. n. The art and science of discovering the predominant temper, and other characteristic qualities of the mind, by the outward appearance, especially by the features of the face.
Definition of Physiognomy
1. Noun. The art and science of discovering the predominant temper, and other characteristic qualities of the mind, by the outward appearance, especially by the features of the face. ¹
2. Noun. The face or countenance, with respect to the temper of the mind; particular configuration, cast, or expression of countenance, as denoting character. ¹
3. Noun. The art of telling fortunes by inspection of the features. ¹
4. Noun. The general appearance or aspect of a thing, without reference to its scientific characteristics; as, the physiognomy of a plant, or of a meteor. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Physiognomy
1. [n -MIES]
Medical Definition of Physiognomy
1. An anatomy term referring to a person's general physical appearance and shape, particularly the person's face. A psychology term for a subfield which studied how one can tell the personality traits and attitudes of a person based on the shape of the person's head, face and other physical traits. (This is not a modern area of study). (09 Oct 1997)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Physiognomy
Literary usage of Physiognomy
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1919)
"Lavater was the first to develop a complete system of physiognomy, which included
all the relations between the physical and moral nature of man. ..."
2. Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Standard Work of Reference in Art, Literature (1907)
"5 all persons pretending to have skill in physiognomy were deemed rogues and
vagabonds, ... physiognomy was regarded by those who cultivated it as a twofold ..."
3. Curiosities of Literature by Isaac Disraeli (1893)
"The following physiological definition of physiognomy is extracted from a ...
The great Prince of Conde was very expert in a tort of physiognomy which ..."
4. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: “a” Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature edited by Hugh Chisholm (1911)
"While the earlier classical physiognomy was chiefly descriptive, : later medieval
authors particularly developed the predictive i astrological side, ..."
5. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General by Thomas Spencer Baynes (1888)
"physiognomy. By the Act of Parliament IT George II. c. 5 all persons pretending
to have skill in physiognomy were deemed rogues and vagabonds, ..."
6. A Brief Retrospect of the Eighteenth Century: Part First; in Two Volumes by Samuel Miller (1803)
"physiognomy. The first time we hear of this subject being studied as a science,
... In the time of SOCRATES physiognomy was studied and adopted as a ..."
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