face

face
   Certain physical features are persistently, and irrationally, seen as clues to inner character: a high domed forehead indicating intelligence, a receding chin stupidity and cowardice, a jutting jaw bad temper, close-set eyes dishonesty, thick lips sensuality, etc. The size of a man's nose and a woman's mouth are said to correspond to that of their sexual organs - sometimes seriously, often in jest.
   Some minor forms of *fortune-telling were based on the face. The presence and position of *moles and dimples was considered significant; E. M. Wright collected the following predictions of poverty or wealth, of which the first two were still known in 1958:
   A dimple in your cheek, Your living to seek
   (Yorkshire)
   A dimple in your chin,
   You'll have your living brought in
   (Yorkshire)
   If you've a mole above your chin You'll never be beholden to your kin
   (Shropshire)
   and also a Lancashire belief that a mole on the side of the nose was a sign that the Devil has marked you for his own (Wright, 1913: 224). Others reported that 'it is the opinion of nurses that babies who have dimples have short tongues, and will lisp' (N&Q 5s:9 (1878), 466).
   See also *ears, *eyebrows, *eyelashes, *eyes, *moles, *mouths, *noses.
   ■ Opie and Tatem, 1989: 119, 288; Lean, 1903: ii. 1. 284-5.

A Dictionary of English folklore. . 2014.

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  • face — face …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • face — [ fas ] n. f. • XIIe; lat. pop. °facia, class. facies 1 ♦ Partie antérieure de la tête humaine. ⇒ figure, tête, visage. « La face est le moyen d expression du sentiment » (Malraux). Une face large, pleine, colorée. « dans sa face rasée, ronde,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • face — FÁCE, fac, vb. III. a. tranz. I. 1. A întocmi, a alcătui, a făuri, a realiza, a fabrica un obiect. Face un gard. ♢ A procura un obiect, dispunând confecţionarea lui de către altcineva. Îşi face pantofi. 2. A construi, a clădi; a ridica, a aşeza.… …   Dicționar Român

  • Face — (f[=a]s), n. [F., from L. facies form, shape, face, perh. from facere to make (see {Fact}); or perh. orig. meaning appearance, and from a root meaning to shine, and akin to E. fancy. Cf. {Facetious}.] 1. The exterior form or appearance of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Face of a — Face Face (f[=a]s), n. [F., from L. facies form, shape, face, perh. from facere to make (see {Fact}); or perh. orig. meaning appearance, and from a root meaning to shine, and akin to E. fancy. Cf. {Facetious}.] 1. The exterior form or appearance… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • face — FACE. s. f. Visage. Se couvrir la face. destourner sa face. regarder quelqu un en face. voir la face de Dieu. le voir face à face. Face, se dit aussi De la superficie des choses corporelles. La face de la terre. En ce sens on dit. en termes de l… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • face — [fās] n. [ME < OFr < VL facia < L facies, the face, appearance < base of facere, DO1] 1. the front of the head from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin, and from ear to ear; visage; countenance 2. the expression of the… …   English World dictionary

  • face — ► NOUN 1) the front part of a person s head from the forehead to the chin, or the corresponding part in an animal. 2) an expression on someone s face. 3) the surface of a thing, especially one presented to the view or with a particular function.… …   English terms dictionary

  • face — n Face, countenance, visage, physiognomy, mug, puss denote the front part of a human or, sometimes, animal head including the mouth, nose, eyes, forehead, and cheeks. Face is the simple and direct word {your face is dirty} {she struck him in the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • face — n 1 a: outward appearance b: the surface or superficial reading or meaning of something (as a document or statute) that does not take into account outside information the face of [the] deed reveals that she had two purposes in mind State v. Rand …   Law dictionary

  • Face — (f[=a]s), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Faced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Facing}.] 1. To meet in front; to oppose with firmness; to resist, or to meet for the purpose of stopping or opposing; to confront; to encounter; as, to face an enemy in the field of battle …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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