Advertisement
2110 entries found
face-value (n.)
1842, from face (n.) + value (n.). Originally of stock shares, banknotes, etc.
Related entries & more 
Advertisement
facebook (n.)
directory listing names and headshots, by 1983, originally among U.S. college students, from face (n.) + book (n.). The social networking Web site of that name (with capital F-) dates from 2004.
Related entries & more 
faceless (adj.)
1560s, from face (n.) + -less. Related: Facelessly; facelessness.
Related entries & more 
facet (n.)
1620s, "one side of a multi-sided body," from French facette (12c., Old French facete), diminutive of face "face, appearance" (see face (n.)). The diamond-cutting sense is the original one. Transferred and figurative use by 1820. Related: Faceted; facets.
Related entries & more 
facetious (adj.)
1590s, from French facétieux (16c.), from facétie "a joke" (15c.), from Latin facetiae "jests, witticisms" (singular facetia), from facetus "witty, elegant, fine, courteous," which is of unknown origin, perhaps related to facis "torch."

Formerly often in a good sense, "witty, amusing," but later implying a desire to be amusing that is often intrusive or ill-timed. Related: Facetiously; facetiousness. "Facetiæ in booksellers' catalogues, is, like curious, a euphemism for erotica." [Fowler]
Related entries & more 
Advertisement
facia (n.)
variant of fascia.
Related entries & more 
facial (adj.)
c. 1600, "face to face," from French facial, from Medieval Latin facialis "of the face," from facies (see face (n.)). Meaning "pertaining to the face" in English is from 1786. The noun meaning "beauty treatment for the face" is from 1914, American English. Middle English had faciale (n.) "face-cloth for a corpse" (early 14c.).
Related entries & more 
facile (adj.)
late 15c., "easy to do," from Middle French facile "easy," from Latin facilis "easy to do," of persons, "pliant, courteous, yielding," from facere "to do" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"). Usually now with depreciatory implication. Of persons, "easily led," from 1510s.
Related entries & more 
facile princeps 
Latin, literally "easily first." An acknowledged leader or chief. See facile, prince.
Related entries & more 
facilis descensus Averni 
Latin, literally "the descent of Avernus (is) easy" ["Aeneid," VI.126], in reference to Avernus, a deep lake near Puteoli and a reputed entrance to the underworld; hence, "it is easy to slip into moral ruin."
Related entries & more 

Page 5

Advertisement

Trending Words

© 2001-2020 Douglas Harper