face

face
{{11}}face (n.) late 13c., "front of the head," from O.Fr. face (12c.) "face, countenance, look, appearance," from V.L. *facia (Cf. It. faccia), from L. facies "appearance, form, figure," and secondarily "visage, countenance;" probably related to facere "to make" (see FACTITIOUS (Cf. factitious)). Replaced O.E. andwlita (from root of wlitan "to see, look") and ansyn, the usual word (from the root of seon "see"). In French, the use of face for "front of the head" was given up 17c. and replaced by visage (older vis), from L. visus "sight." To lose face (or save face), 1876, is said to be from Chinese tu lien. Face value was originally (1878) of bank notes, postage stamps, etc.
{{12}}face (v.) "confront with assurance, show a bold face," mid-15c., from FACE (Cf. face) (n.) Related: Faced. To face the music is theatrical.

Etymology dictionary. 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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