Aquiline

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈæk.wɪˌlaɪn/

Definitions

1. Having a shape that curves downward like the beak of an eagle ; showing qualities or features similar to or resembling those of an eagle
2. Characterized by a prominently curved form reminiscent of a bird of prey's hooked bill ; exhibiting traits typically associated with an eagle
3. Describing a hooked or bent shape like an eagle's beak ; evoking the appearance or attributes of an eagle in form or style

Etymology: Latin "aquila" meant "eagle," and a nose or profile that resembles an eagle's beak is described with a word built from it. The Latin "aquilīnus" meant "of or like an eagle," formed with the suffix "-inus," which marks "belonging to" or "pertaining to." English borrowed it as "aquiline," so the word is essentially "eagle-like" in its most literal sense. The word is most often applied to noses, especially those with a pronounced bridge that curves downward, as an eagle's beak does. It can also describe features more loosely, such as a sharp, hooked profile in a face, which is why the term often appears in descriptions of people's appearance. The core idea stays the same across these uses: a curve that recalls a bird of prey.

Synonyms: hooked, curved, beaked, sharp, arched

Antonyms: straight, flat, level, smooth, even