Facialis

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Characterized by or relating to the face or its features; denoting the facial nerve which governs muscle movements of the face; associated with cosmetic aspects and treatments of facial appearance
2. Pertaining to the face, including its muscles and expressions; referencing the cranial nerve responsible for sensory functions and facial muscle movements; concerning the field of aesthetics and skincare related to the face
3. Describing elements or factors connected to the face, its anatomy, and functions; involving the nerve that plays a critical role in facial expression; related to beauty therapies aimed at enhancing facial looks

Etymology: "Facialis" is a Latin adjective meaning "of the face," built from "facies," the Latin word for face, form, or appearance, plus the suffix "-alis," which marks something as relating to or belonging to a thing. In English the word appears mainly in anatomy, as in "facial nerve" and "facial artery," where it keeps the Latin sense of belonging to the face. The Latin "facies" also gave English "face" through Old French, so "facial" and "face" are close relatives, one inherited through the French-speaking route and the other formed directly from the Latin base. Because "facies" also meant a person's appearance or shape, the same root once covered the look of a thing as well as its visible surface.

Synonyms: facial nerve, cranial nerve VII