Dictionary
phys•i•og•no•my
Pronunciation: (fiz"ē-og'nu-mē, -on'u-mē), [key]—
n.,
—pl. -mies.
1. the face or countenance, esp. when considered as an index to the character:
a fierce physiognomy.
2. Also called
anthroposcopy. the art of determining character or personal characteristics from the form or features of the body, esp. of the face.
3. the outward appearance of anything, taken as offering some insight into its character:
the physiognomy of a nation. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.