Emily Dickinson Lexicon

physiognomy, n. [ME fisnomye < medieval L. < Gk φνσιογνωμονία judging of a man's nature by his features < φύσις, nature + γνώμων, interpreter, judge.] (webplay: face, nature).

1. Countenance; presence; visage; aspect.
2. Any human face; mortal eyes; [metonymy] mortal; human being.
3. Studying the features and lines of a structure to predict its purpose or destiny; inspecting a physical form to determine its use.