Etymologically
Log in

facialis

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 24 October 2026 at 04:58. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [fa.kiˈaː.lɪs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [fa.t͡ʃiˈaː.lis][1]

Forms

faciālis (neuter faciāle); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin faciēs (“face”) + -ālis.[1][2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found as a neuter noun, faciāle, a cloth for the face: the Latin–Greek glossaries give it for προσόψιον (prosópsion), a face towel, and a school dialogue lists the strigil, the towel, the foot cloth and the oil flask.[4][5]

Semantic evolution

The noun meant a towel or handkerchief,[6][2] and a cloth to cover the face, which the DMLBS compares with the sūdārium of John 20:7;[5] an account of Anastasius the Apocrisiarius glosses ōrārium as faciāle, and a martyrology tells of people who veiled their faces with such cloths so as not to be recognised.[4]

As an adjective, in theology it meant “face to face”: Ockham writes of the face-to-face vision of the divine essence,[5] and the Annals of Saint Victor record under 1334 that Pope Benedict XII issued a decretal to settle the long dispute among theologians over the saints' face-to-face vision of God.[4][5] Roger Bacon uses it for a direct, diametrical opposition.[5] Polish records use it of wounds and of burning on the face, and in law of a terminus faciālis, a court day set by a spoken summons.[3] In Neo-Latin it could also mean “superficial”.[7] English facial meant “face to face” about 1600, from French facial, from the Medieval Latin word;[8] Middle English had a noun faciale, a face-cloth for a corpse, in the early 14th century.[8]

Timeline

  • Late Latin – The glossaries give the noun faciāle for a face towel.[4][5]
  • 1267 – Köbler's first date for the adjective, from Latham.[2]
  • 1334 – Benedict XII settles the question of the face-to-face vision of God.[4]
  • 1445 – A Polish record speaks of wounds to the face.[3]
  • c. 1600 – English facial “face to face” is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Medieval Latin) Of the face; on the face.[2][3][9]
  2. (Medieval Latin, theology) Face to face: vīsiō faciālis, the face-to-face vision of God.[5][4][10]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Direct, diametrical.[5]
  4. (Medieval Latin, law) terminus faciālis: a court day set by a spoken summons.[3]
  5. (New Latin) Superficial.[7]

Noun

  1. (Late Latin, Medieval Latin) faciāle: a towel, handkerchief; a cloth to cover the face.[6][4][5]
  2. (Medieval Latin, law) faciāle: clear evidence of a theft, an object shown as proof.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d e f Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  4. ^ a b c d e f g du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
  8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  9. ^ Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences
  10. ^ Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE