Face

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /feɪs/

Definitions

1. The anterior part of the head, containing facial features, signifies individuality
2. The front part of the head, characterized by features like the eyes, nose, and mouth, serves as a key aspect of human identity and expression
3. The frontal aspect of the head, which includes distinct features such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, plays a vital role in social recognition and interaction

Etymology: The word came into English from Middle English "face", borrowed from Old French, which took it from Late Latin "facia", ultimately from Latin "faciēs", meaning "form" or "appearance". So the English noun that now names the front of the head once meant little more than shape or look. Latin "faciēs" is a doublet of "facies", the medical and technical term, and the two came into English by different routes, one popular and one learned. English already had its own words for the face, and "face" displaced several of them. Old English offered "andwlita" and "ansīen", and Middle English had "neb", "ler" and "vis", all now lost. The word also took on the sense of reputation, as in "losing face". That usage was reinforced by Chinese "miànzi" and "liǎn", which likewise mean both the front of the head and one's public standing.

Synonyms: visage, countenance, mug

Antonyms: back