physiognomy Definition

physiognomy
noun physiognomies

1. The face or features, especially when used or seen as a key to someone's personality.
2. The art of judging character from appearance, especially from the face.
3. The general appearance of something, eg the countryside.

Derivative: physiognomic
adj

Derivative: physiognomist
noun

Etymology: 14c as phisonomie, etc: from Latin phisonomia, from Greek physis nature + gnomon judge or interpreter.