英和和英

語源

Inherited from Middle English phisonomie, from Anglo-Norman phisenomie, Middle French phisonomie et al., ultimately from Late Latin physiognomia, from Ancient Greek φυσιογνωμονία (phusiognōmonía, “the science または art of judging a man by his features”), from φύσις (phúsis, “physique, appearance”) + γνώμων (gnṓmōn, “one that knows または examines, an interpreter, discerner”).

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.

発音

• (英国発音) IPA^(key): /fɪziˈɒnəmi/, (廃れた用法) /fɪziˈɒɡnəmi/
• (米国発音, Canada) IPA^(key): /fɪziˈɑ(ɡ)nəmi/

名詞

physiognomy (countable かつ uncountable, 複数形 physiognomies)

1. 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.
2. The face or countenance, with respect to the temper of the mind; particular configuration, cast, or expression of countenance, as denoting character.
   • c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s VVell, that Ends VVell”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v], page 251, column 2:

     Faith ſir a has an Engliſh maine, but his fiſnomie is more hotter in France then there.

3. The art of telling fortunes by inspection of the features.
4. The general appearance or aspect of a thing, without reference to its scientific characteristics.

   the physiognomy of a plant; of a meteor

同意語

• See also Thesaurus:countenance

派生語

• physiognomist