phys·i·og·no·my (fĭz'ē-ŏg'nə-mē, -ŏn'ə-mē)
n., pl., -mies.

1. 1. The art of judging human character from facial features.
   2. Divination based on facial features.
2. 1. Facial features, especially when regarded as revealing character.
   2. Aspect and character of an inanimate or abstract entity: the physiognomy of New England.

[Middle English phisonomie, from Old French phisionomie, from Late Latin physiognōmia, from Greek phusiognōmiā, variant of phusiognōmoniā : phusio-, physio- + gnōmōn, gnōmon-, interpreter.]

physiognomic phys'i·og·nom'ic (-ŏg-nŏm'ĭk, -ə-nŏm'ĭk) or phys'i·og·nom'i·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj.
physiognomically phys'i·og·nom'i·cal·ly adv.
physiognomist phys'i·og'no·mist n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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