Your physiognomy is your face, especially when it is considered to show your real character.
[formal]
He was fascinated by her physiognomy–the prominent nose, brooding eyes and thickhair.
Synonyms: face, features, look, clock [British, slang] More Synonyms of physiognomy
physiognomy in British English
(ˌfɪzɪˈɒnəmɪ)
noun
1.
a person's features or characteristic expression considered as an indication of personality
2.
the art or practice of judging character from facial features
3.
the outward appearance of something, esp the physical characteristics of a geographical region
Derived forms
physiognomic (ˌfɪzɪəˈnɒmɪk) or physiognomical (ˌphysiogˈnomical)
adjective
physiognomically (ˌphysiogˈnomically)
adverb
physiognomist (ˌphysiˈognomist)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French phisonomie, via Medieval Latin, from Late Greek phusiognōmia, erroneous for Greek phusiognōmonia, from phusis nature + gnōmōn judge
physiognomy in American English
(ˌfɪziˈɑgnəmi; Chiefly British ˌfɪziˈɑnəmi)
noun
1.
the practice of trying to judge character and mental qualities by observation of bodily, esp. facial, features
2.
facial features and expression, esp. as supposedly indicative of character; the face
3.
apparent characteristics; outward features or appearance