physiognomy
[/ˌfɪziˈɒɡnəmi/]
nounfemininepl: physiognomies
fisionomia
1. The distinctive form or appearance of a person's face, especially as an indication of their character or ethnic origin
The artist studied the physiognomy of her subjects to capture their essence in the portraits.
A artista estudou a fisionomia de seus modelos para capturar sua essência nos retratos.
2. The general appearance or characteristic features of something (not necessarily a person)
The physiognomy of the city changed dramatically after the urban renewal project.
A fisionomia da cidade mudou dramaticamente após o projeto de revitalização urbana.
3. The practice of assessing character or personality based on facial features (historical practice, often considered pseudoscience)
During the 19th century, physiognomy was a popular but controversial pseudoscience.
Durante o século XIX, a fisionomia era uma pseudociência popular, mas controversa.
The term is more commonly used in formal, academic, and artistic contexts in both Brazil and Portugal. While the historical practice of physiognomy (assessing character from facial features) is now largely discredited as pseudoscience, the word itself remains useful in literature and art criticism to describe facial characteristics and overall appearance. In contemporary usage, it's employed more metaphorically to describe the character or appearance of cities, institutions, or social groups rather than to assess individuals.
NYC Slang
mug (slang for face), but less commonly used in modern NYC slang
Related Idioms & Phrases
change the physiognomy of something - mudar a fisionomia de algo
the physiognomy of the times - a fisionomia dos tempos
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