visage

What it means

1. Countenance; one's face.

   Lying on the floor was a dead man, in evening dress, with a knife in his heart. He was withered, wrinkled, and loathsome of visage. It was not till they had examined the rings that they recognized who it was.

   1891, Oscar Wilde, chapter XX, in The Picture of Dorian Gray, London; New York, N.Y.: Ward Lock & Co., →OCLC, page 334

   Synonyms: boat, complexion, countenance, chevy chase, dial, ecaf, eek, George Best

2. The appearance or aspect of something, especially when expressive or distinctive.

   Snowflakes fell gently across the mountain's rugged visage.

   1 more example

   [T]he monſter, rouſed by the noiſe, ſtarted forward, preſented ſuch a viſage of horror, and raiſed ſuch a hideous roar, that the hearts of the bold were contracted, and the nerves of the valiant unſtrung.

   1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page 6

In a sentence

Lying on the floor was a dead man, in evening dress, with a knife in his heart. He was withered, wrinkled, and loathsome of visage. It was not till they had examined the rings that they recognized who it was.

1891, Oscar Wilde, chapter XX, in The Picture of Dorian Gray, London; New York, N.Y.: Ward Lock & Co., →OCLC, page 334

Where it comes from

1. Latinvīsus“appearance, sight”
2. Vulgar Latin*vīsāticum
3. Anglo-Normanvisage
4. Middle Englishvisage
5. Englishvisage

From Middle English visage, from Anglo-Norman visage, from Vulgar Latin *vīsāticum, derived from Latin vīsus (“appearance, sight”), derived from vidēre (“to see”). Compare vision. See -age (“noun suffix”).