face English · revision 2007

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300 (Arthour and Merlin)|origins=la faciēs}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /feɪs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|face]], [[bor|fro|face|t=face, countenance, appearance]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la-vul|*facia]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Klein 1966) from [[la|faciēs|t=form, appearance, figure; visage]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Most sources derive ''faciēs'' from [[m|la|facere|t=to make, do]], as “a form given to something”,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966)^(Barnhart 1988) ultimately from [[ine-pro|*dhē-|t=to set, put]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) but the Shorter Oxford relates it instead to [[m|la|fax|t=torch]].^(SOED 2002) The Vulgar Latin form also gave [[it|faccia]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) The French word itself was given up for the front of the head in the 17th century, in favour of [[m|fro|visage]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The human face, a facial expression, a likeness: about 1300, in ''Arthour and Merlin''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) It replaced Old English ''andwlita'' and ''ansien'', both from verbs of seeing.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the late 14th century it came to mean an outward appearance as opposed to reality, the front of anything, and the surface of the earth or sea.^(Etymonline) The verb first meant “to deface” (about 1400),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) then “to show a bold face, to boast” (1440),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and “to confront” from 1465, in the Paston Letters.^(Barnhart 1988) “To cover the front of” is from the 1560s and “to turn the face towards” from the 1630s.^(Etymonline) ''To fly in the face of'' (16th century) pictures a dog springing at someone, and ''lose face'' and ''save face'' translate Chinese expressions.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Face the music'' is recorded in 1850, in debates of the US Congress.^(Etymonline) The adjective ''facial'' meant “face to face” in 1609 and “of the face” from 1818, and a ''facial'' treatment is American, from 1914.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – the face (''Arthour and Merlin'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – outward appearance; the front or surface.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – verb, to deface.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1440 – verb, to show a bold face.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1465 – verb, to confront (Paston Letters).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1560s – to cover the front of.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1630s – to turn towards.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1818 – ''facial'', of the face.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1850 – ''face the music''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1914 – ''facial'', a beauty treatment.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The front of the head, from forehead to chin.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A look or [[expression]]; a [[grimace]]: ''make a face''.^(AHD)

+ # Outward appearance.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Standing in the eyes of others; [[prestige]]: ''lose face''.^(AHD)^(Cresswell 2021)

+ # Boldness; [[impudence]].^(AHD)

+ # The front, main or outer surface of something: ''the face of a cliff''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To have the front turned towards: ''the house faces the sea''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To [[confront]] boldly; to deal with.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # To be certain to meet: ''face a fine''.^(AHD)

+ # To cover the front or surface of.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[faceable]]

+ * [[faceless]]

+ * [[facelessness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[facade]]

+ * [[facial]]

+ * [[facies]]

+ * [[surface]]

+ * [[facet]]

+ * [[deface]]

+ * [[efface]]

+ * [[superficial]]

+ * [[fact]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ RHWU distinguishes ''face'', the combination of features, from ''countenance'', the face as it shows a state of mind, and ''visage'', a more formal word for the face as it appears, especially when stern.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}