Faces

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈfeɪsɪz/

Definitions

1. Encompassing the facial features of individuals, the outer portions of objects, and the various aspects of identity shown in public, this term has several relevant meanings
2. The term refers to the front part of the head that includes the eyes, nose, and mouth; it also indicates the surfaces of an object or structure; additionally, it encompasses the aspects of a person's character or identity presented to others
3. This word describes the features of the head, particularly the area used for expression and communication; it includes the visible sides of a physical object; and it signifies the persona or public image someone projects

Etymology: "Faces" is simply the plural of "face," the noun for the front of the head, and also the third-person singular present of the verb "to face." "Face" itself came into English from Old French "face," which in turn descends from Late Latin "facia," based on Latin "faciēs," meaning "form" or "appearance." The English word is a doublet of "facies," meaning the same Latin root arrived twice, once through everyday French speech and once through learned borrowing. English already had its own words for the front of the head, such as "onlete," "anleth," "neb," and "leer," but "face" gradually displaced most of them. One of the more striking developments is the sense of "face" as reputation or social standing. This was influenced by Chinese expressions "面子" (miànzi) and "臉／脸" (liǎn), both of which literally mean the front of the head and figuratively mean one's public image. That is why the idiom "lose face" carries the sense it does.

Synonyms: visages, countenances, mugs, features

Antonyms: backs