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Physiognomy: meaning, definitions and examples

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physiognomy

 

[ ˌfɪziˈɒɡnəmi ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

facial features

Physiognomy is the practice of assessing a person's character or personality from their outer appearance, especially the face. It is often associated with the idea that facial features can reflect one's inner qualities.

Synonyms

character assessment, face reading, facial analysis.

Examples of usage

  • She studied physiognomy to understand people's emotions better.
  • In ancient cultures, physiognomy was used to judge someone's character.
  • He believed in the principles of physiognomy and often made quick judgments based on facial expressions.

Translations

Translations of the word "physiognomy" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fisiognomia

🇮🇳 मुखाकृति

🇩🇪 Physiognomie

🇮🇩 fisiognomi

🇺🇦 фізіогномія

🇵🇱 fizjonomia

🇯🇵 顔学

🇫🇷 physiognomie

🇪🇸 fisiognomía

🇹🇷 fizyonomi

🇰🇷 안면학

🇸🇦 علم الفراسة

🇨🇿 fizionomie

🇸🇰 fiziognómia

🇨🇳 面相学

🇸🇮 fiziognomika

🇮🇸 andlitsfræði

🇰🇿 физиономия

🇬🇪 ფიზიონომია

🇦🇿 fiziognoziya

🇲🇽 fisiognomía

Etymology

The word 'physiognomy' has its roots in the ancient Greek words 'phusis', meaning 'nature', and 'gnomon', meaning 'interpreter' or 'one who judges'. In the early civilizations, particularly in Greece and Rome, scholars were fascinated by the belief that a person’s physical appearance could indicate their moral and ethical character. This belief persisted through the Middle Ages into the Renaissance, where physiognomy took on a more systematic form as a field of study. In the 18th and 19th centuries, physiognomy became linked with the burgeoning fields of psychology and anthropology, which often misused these insights to support social and racial stereotypes. Despite its decline as a serious scientific field, physiognomy continues to play a role in popular culture, influencing the way we perceive and judge others based on their appearances.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,627, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.