ONLINE ETYMOLOGY
DICTIONARY
- physiognomy
(n.)
-
late 14c., "art of judging characters from facial features,"
from O.Fr. phizonomie and directly from L.L. physiognomia, from Gk.
physiognomia "the judging of a person's nature by his
features," from physio- (see physio-)
+ gnomon (gen. gnomonos) "judge, indicator" (see gnomon).
Meaning "face, countenance, features" is from c.1400.
Related: Physiognomical.
- physio-
- word-forming element meaning
"nature, natural, physical," from Gk. physio-, comb. form
of physios "nature" (see physic).
-
physic
(n.)
- c.1300, fysike, "art of
healing, medical science," also "natural science"
(c.1300), from O.Fr. fisike "natural science, art of healing"
(12c.) and directly from L. physica (fem. singular of physicus)
"study of nature," from Gk. physike (episteme)
"(knowledge) of nature," from fem. of physikos
"pertaining to nature," from physis "nature,"
from phyein "to bring forth, produce, make to grow" (cf.
phyton "growth, plant," phyle "tribe, race,"
phyma "a growth, tumor") from PIE root *bheue- "to
be exist, grow" (cf. O.E. beon "to be," see be).
Spelling with ph- attested from late 14c. (see ph).
As a noun, "medicine that acts as a laxative," 1610s. The
verb meaning "to dose with medicine" is attested from
late 14c.
-
gnomon
(n.)
- "vertical shaft that tells
time by the shadow it casts" (especially the triangular plate
on a sundial), 1540s, from L. gnomon, from Gk. gnomon "indicator,"
lit. "one who discerns," from gignoskein "to come to
know" (see gnostic
(adj.)).
- gnostic
(adj.)
-
"relating to knowledge," 1650s, from Gk. gnostikos
"knowing, able to discern," from gnostos "known,
perceived, understood," from gignoskein "to learn, to come
to know" (see know).
