physiognomy etymology

Etymology:

  • Greek "physis" (nature, growth) + "gnomon" (indicator, interpreter)

Meaning:

Physiognomy is the study of facial features and their supposed connection to a person's character, personality, and health.

Origin:

The concept of physiognomy has ancient roots, dating back to at least the 5th century BCE:

  • Ancient Greece: The philosopher Anaxagoras (500-428 BCE) believed that facial features reflected a person's inner nature.
  • Ancient China: The "Book of Physiognomy" (Lianshu) was compiled under the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE). It contained a detailed system for interpreting facial features.
  • Medieval Europe: Physiognomy was widely practiced by physicians, theologians, and astrologers. It was believed that the stars and other celestial bodies influenced a person's physical appearance and personality.

Over time, physiognomy became less influential as a scientific discipline due to the lack of empirical evidence to support its claims. However, it continued to be popular as a folk belief or form of entertainment.

Today, physiognomy is generally considered a pseudoscience, although some aspects of it, such as the study of facial expressions, have been incorporated into modern psychology and communication research.

physiognomy relate terms

  • phiz

    Etymology Late Middle English late 14th century via Old French from Latin physa bla

  • physiognomy

    Etymology Greek physis nature growth gnomon indicator interpreter Meaning

  • acknowledge

    Etymology Acknowledge comes from the Middle English word acnowlechen which itself der

  • acquaint

    Etymology Old French acointer Latin accolligere to bring together Proto Indo Europea

  • agnostic

    Etymology From Ancient Greek ἀ a without γνῶσις gnōsis knowledge

  • anagnorisis

    Etymology From Ancient Greek ἀναγνώρισις anagnorisis from ἀνα ana

  • astrognosy

    Etymology Astro Greek for star Gnosis Greek for knowledge Meaning Astrognosy

  • cognition

    Etymology Cognition is derived from the Latin word cognoscere meaning to know or to

  • cognizance

    Etymology Latin cognoscere to know understand com with together gnoscere

  • connoisseur

    Etymology French connoisseur Latin cognoscere to know to be acquainted with

  • could

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It traces the evolut

  • couth

    Etymology Old French cooth known familiar courteous Medieval Latin couthus kno

  • cunning

    Etymology The word cunning comes from the Old English word cunnan which means to k

  • diagnosis

    Etymology Greek dia through gnosis knowledge Meaning The process of iden

  • ennoble

    Etymology From Old French ennobler to ennoble from Latin innobilio innobilire t

  • gnome

    Etymology The word gnome derives from the Latin gnomus which was the Roman renderin

  • gnomic

    Etymology Gnomic is derived from the Greek word gnōmē which means maxim sente

  • gnomon

    Etymology The word gnomon is derived from the Greek word gnōmōn which means indi

  • gnosis

    Etymology Greek γνῶσις gnōsis knowledge Meaning Gnosis is a term used

  • gnostic

    Etymology The word gnostic is derived from the Ancient Greek word gnōstikos which m

  • gnostic

    Etymology The word gnostic is derived from the Ancient Greek word gnōstikos which m

  • ignoble

    Etymology The word ignoble comes from the Latin word ignobilis which is composed of

  • ignore

    Noun cat dog tree car book Verb run jump walk talk eat Adjective big small red

  • incognito

    Etymology The word incognito originates from the Latin phrase in cognito which means

  • kenning

    Etymology Old Norse kenning knowledge recognition Meaning A kennning is a type

  • kith

    Etymology Kith is derived from the Old English word cyððe meaning acquaintance

  • know

    Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It investigates how words have

  • knowledge

    Etymology Derived from the Middle English knowleche which itself comes from Old Engl

  • narrate

    Etymology Narrate comes from the Latin verb narrare which means to tell relate or

  • narration

    Etymology The word narration originates from the Latin word narratio which means a

  • nobility

    Etymology Latin nobilitas Proto Indo European ne bʰel to know understand

  • noble

    Etymology The English word noble comes from the Old French noble c 1080 which is

  • notice

    Etymology Notice derives from the Latin word noticia meaning knowledge notice inte

  • notify

    Etymology Origin Middle English notifeien Old French notifier Latin notare to mark

  • notion

    Etymology of Notion The word notion originates from the Old French word notion meani

  • notorious

    Etymology The word notorious is derived from the Latin phrase nota reus which means

  • physiognomy

    Etymology Greek physis nature growth gnomon indicator interpreter Meaning

  • prognosis

    Etymology Greek prognōsis pro before in advance gnōsis knowledge opinion

  • quaint

    Etymology The word quaint comes from the Old French word coint meaning refined or

  • recognize

    Etymology The study of the origin and history of words Meaning Etymology provides insi

  • reconnaissance

    Etymology Middle English reconissaunce from Anglo French reconissaunce from Latin reco

  • reconnoiter

    Etymology Reconnoiter Middle English reconnoitren lt Old French reconoitre lt Late

  • uncouth

    Etymology The word uncouth comes from Middle English uncouthe which in turn origina

  • Zend

    Etymology The word Zend is derived from the modern Persian word zend which means c

  • physio

    Etymology The word physio comes from the Greek word physis which means nature Me

  • countenance

    Etymology From Old French contenance appearance from Medieval Latin continentia

  • pyromania

    Etymology and Meaning of Pyromania Pyromania is a psychological disorder characterized b

  • cafe

    Etymology The word café originates from the French word café which in turn comes f

  • face

    Etymology The word face comes from the Middle English word face which in turn derive

  • contentment

    Etymology Old French contentement from Late Latin contēntum neuter past participle

  • Maranatha

    Etymology The word Maranatha is a transliteration of the Aramaic phrase Marana tha w

  • deliberate

    Etymology Latin deliberare meaning to deliberate consider weigh Prefix de mea

  • fiasco

    Etymology The word fiasco comes from the Italian word fiasco which originally refer