phisnomy

P3H4I1S1N1O1M3Y4

A form of physiognomy — The art or pseudoscience of deducing the predominant temper and other characteristic qualities of the mind from the outward appearance, especially from the features of the face.

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Meanings

nounphisnomy (plural phisnomies)

plural phisnomies

  1. obsoleteObsolete spelling of physiognomy.

    Surely I ſhold knovv full vvell that face and phiſnomy: O Heavens! 'tis Peregrin.

    1661, James Howell, “Casuall Discourses, and Interlocutions betwixt Patricius and Peregrin, Touching the Distractions of the Times, with the Causes of Them”, in Twelve Several Treatises, of the Late Revolutions in these Three Kingdomes; […], London: […] J[ohn] Grismond [II], […], →OCLC, page 1
    2 more examples

    The fyrst that I reade of that thus painted her phisnomy was the noughtye quene Iesabell, the common butcher and murderer of all the preachers and prophetes of almightye God.

    1557, Roger Edgeworth, Sermons Very Fruitfull, Godly and Learned, London, Sermon 11, p. 201

    Faith Seignior, novv I look better on you, I do not like your Phiſnomy ſo vvell as your Intellects […]

    1687, A[phra] Behn, The Emperor of the Moon. A Farce. […], London: […] R. Holt, for Joseph Knight, and Francis Saunders, […], →OCLC, Act III, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals), page 51
Cite this entry
APA

phisnomy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phisnomy

MLA

“phisnomy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phisnomy. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “phisnomy,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phisnomy.

Source: phisnomy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.