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FACE - 19 definitions found

Websters 1828 Dictionary

Face FACE, n. [L., to make.]
1. In a general sense, the surface of a thing, or the side which presents itself to the view of a spectator; as the face of the earth; the face of the waters.
2. A part of the surface of a thing; or the plane surface of a solid. Thus, a cube or die has six faces an octahedron has eight faces.
3. The surface of the fore part of an animals head, particularly of the human head; the visage.
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. Gen 3.
Joseph bowed himself with his face to the earth. Gen 48.
4. Countenance; cast of features; look; air of the face.
We set the best face on it we could.
5. The front of a thing; the forepart; the flat surface that presents itself first to view; as the face of a house. Ezek 41.
6. Visible state; appearance.
This would produce a new face of things in Europe.
7. Appearance; look.
Nor heaven, nor sea, their former face retained.
His dialogue has the face of probability.
8. State of confrontation. The witnesses were presented face to face.
9. Confidence; boldness; impudence; a bold front.
He has the face to charge others with false citations.
10. Presence; sight; as in the phrases, before the face, in the face, to the face, from the face.
11. The person.
I had not thought to see thy face. Gen 48.
12. In scripture, face is used for anger or favor.
Hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne. Revelations 6.
Make thy face to shine on thy servant. Psa 31.
How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? Psa 8.
Hence, to seek the face, that is, to pray to, to seek the favor of.
To set the face against, is to oppose.
To accept ones face, is to show him favor or grant his request. So, to entreat the face, is to ask favor; but these phrases are nearly obsolete.
13. A distorted form of the face; as in the phrase, to make faces, or to make wry faces.
Face to face
1. When both parties are present; as, to have accusers face to face. Acts 25.
2. Nakedly; without the interposition of any other body.
Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face. 1 Cor 13.
FACE, v.t.
1. To meet in front; to oppose with firmness; to resist, or to meet for the purpose of stopping or opposing; as, to face an enemy in the field of battle.
I'll face this tempest, and deserve the name of king.
2. To stand opposite to; to stand with the face or front towards. The colleges in New Haven face the public square.
3. To cover with additional superficies; to cover in front; as a fortification faced with marble; to face a garment with silk.
To face down, to oppose boldly or impudently.
FACE, v.i.
1. To carry a false appearance; to play the hypocrite.
To lie, to face, to forge.
2. To turn the face; as, to face to the right or left.




WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005)

face n 1: the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear; "he washed his face"; "I wish I had seen the look on his face when he got the news" [syn: face, human face] 2: the feelings expressed on a person's face; "a sad expression"; "a look of triumph"; "an angry face" [syn: expression, look, aspect, facial expression, face] 3: the general outward appearance of something; "the face of the city is changing" 4: the striking or working surface of an implement 5: a part of a person that is used to refer to a person; "he looked out at a roomful of faces"; "when he returned to work he met many new faces" 6: a surface forming part of the outside of an object; "he examined all sides of the crystal"; "dew dripped from the face of the leaf" [syn: side, face] 7: the part of an animal corresponding to the human face 8: the side upon which the use of a thing depends (usually the most prominent surface of an object); "he dealt the cards face down" 9: a contorted facial expression; "she made a grimace at the prospect" [syn: grimace, face] 10: a specific size and style of type within a type family [syn: font, fount, typeface, face, case] 11: status in the eyes of others; "he lost face" 12: impudent aggressiveness; "I couldn't believe her boldness"; "he had the effrontery to question my honesty" [syn: boldness, nerve, brass, face, cheek] 13: a vertical surface of a building or cliff v 1: deal with (something unpleasant) head on; "You must confront your problems"; "He faced the terrible consequences of his mistakes" [syn: confront, face up, face] [ant: avoid] 2: oppose, as in hostility or a competition; "You must confront your opponent"; "Jackson faced Smith in the boxing ring"; "The two enemies finally confronted each other" [syn: confront, face] 3: be oriented in a certain direction, often with respect to another reference point; be opposite to; "The house looks north"; "My backyard look onto the pond"; "The building faces the park" [syn: front, look, face] [ant: back] 4: be opposite; "the facing page"; "the two sofas face each other" 5: turn so as to face; turn the face in a certain direction; "Turn and face your partner now" 6: present somebody with something, usually to accuse or criticize; "We confronted him with the evidence"; "He was faced with all the evidence and could no longer deny his actions"; "An enormous dilemma faces us" [syn: confront, face, present] 7: turn so as to expose the face; "face a playing card" 8: line the edge (of a garment) with a different material; "face the lapels of the jacket" 9: cover the front or surface of; "The building was faced with beautiful stones"

Dictionary of Ro

face - mebaf

English Language Idioms

face feɪs See: BLUE IN THE FACE, CUT OFF ONE'S NOSE TO SPITE ONE'S FACE, FLY IN THE FACE OF, HATCHET FACE, HIDE ONE'S FACE, IN ONE'S FACE, IN THE FACE OF, LONG FACE, LOOK IN THE EYE or LOOK IN THE FACE, MAKE A FACE, ON THE FACE OF IT, SAVE FACE, SET ONE'S FACE AGAINST, SHOOT OFF ONE'S MOUTH or SHOOT OFF ONE'S FACE, SHOW ONE'S FACE, SLAP IN THE FACE, STARE IN THE FACE, STRAIGHT FACE, THROW IN ONE'S FACE, TO ONE'S FACE.

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition (2003)

face I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *facia, from Latin facies make, form, face, from facere to make, do — more at do Date: 13th century 1. a. the front part of the head that in humans extends from the forehead to the chin and includes the mouth, nose, cheeks, and eyes b. the face as a means of identification ; countenance <would know that face anywhere> 2. archaic presence, sight 3. a. facial expression <a friendly face> b. a facial expression of distaste or displeasure <he made a face when he saw the test results> c. makeup 3a(1) 4. a. (1) outward appearance <put a good face on it> (2) the aspect of something that is perceptible or obvious upon superficial examination <the theory is absurd on its face — Kim Neely> b. disguise, pretense c. (1) assurance, confidence <maintaining a firm face in spite of adversity> (2) effrontery <how anyone could have the face to ask that question> d. dignity, prestige <afraid to lose face> 5. surface: a. (1) a front, upper, or outer surface (2) the front of something having two or four sides (3) facade (4) an exposed surface of rock (5) any of the plane surfaces that bound a geometric solid b. a surface specially prepared: as (1) the principal dressed surface (as of a disk) (2) the right side (as of cloth or leather) (3) an inscribed, printed, or marked side c. a striking surface (as of a tool) <the face of the golf club> <the face of an anvil> d. (1) the surface (as of type) that receives the ink and transfers it to the paper (2) a style of type 6. the end or wall of a mine tunnel, drift, or excavation at which work is progressing 7. face value 8. person <lots of new faces around here> II. verb (faced; facing) Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to confront impudently 2. a. to line near the edge especially with a different material b. to cover the front or surface of <faced the building with marble> 3. to meet face-to-face or in competition 4. a. to stand or sit with the face toward b. to have the front oriented toward <a house facing the park> 5. a. to recognize and deal with straightforwardly <face the facts> b. to master by confronting with determination — used with down <faced down his critics> 6. a. to have as a prospect ; be confronted by <face a grim future> b. to be a prospect or a source of concern for <the problems that face us> c. to bring face-to-face <he was faced with ruin> 7. to make the surface of (as a stone) flat or smooth 8. to cause (troops) to face in a particular direction on command intransitive verb 1. to have the face or front turned in a specified direction 2. to turn the face in a specified direction

Oxford English Reference Dictionary

face
n. & v.
--n.
1 the front of the head from the forehead to the chin.
2 the expression of the facial features (had a happy face).
3 composure, coolness, effrontery.
4 the surface of a thing, esp. as regarded or approached, esp.: a the visible part of a celestial body. b a side of a mountain etc. (the north face). c the (usu. vertical) surface of a coal-seam. d Geom. each surface of a solid. e the façade of a building. f the plate of a clock or watch bearing the digits, hands, etc.
5 a the functional or working side of a tool etc. b the distinctive side of a playing card. c the obverse of a coin.
6 = TYPEFACE.
7 the outward appearance or aspect (the unacceptable face of capitalism).
8 a person, esp. conveying some quality or association (a face from the past; some young faces for a change).
--v.
1 tr. & intr. look or be positioned towards or in a certain direction (face towards the window; facing the window; the room faces north).
2 tr. be opposite (facing page 20).
3 tr. a (often foll. by out) meet resolutely or defiantly; confront (face one's critics). b not shrink from (face the facts).
4 tr. present itself to; confront (the problem that faces us; faces us with a problem).
5 tr. a cover the surface of a thing with a coating, extra layer, etc. b put a facing on (a garment).
6 intr. & tr. turn or cause to turn in a certain direction.
Phrases and idioms:
face-ache
1 neuralgia.
2 sl. a mournful-looking person. face-card = court-card. face-cloth 1 a cloth for washing one's face.
2 a smooth-surfaced woollen cloth. face-cream a cosmetic cream applied to the face to improve the complexion. face down (or downwards) with the face or surface turned towards the ground, floor, etc. face facts (or the facts) recognize the truth. face-flannel = face-cloth 1.
face-lift
1 (also face-lifting) cosmetic surgery to remove wrinkles etc. by tightening the skin of the face.
2 a procedure to improve the appearance of a thing. face the music colloq. put up with or stand up to unpleasant consequences, esp. criticism. face-pack a preparation beneficial to the complexion, spread over the face and removed when dry. face-powder a cosmetic powder for reducing the shine on the face. face-saving preserving one's reputation, credibility, etc. face to face (often foll. by with) facing; confronting each other. face up (or upwards) with the face or surface turned upwards to view. face up to accept bravely; confront; stand up to.
face value
1 the nominal value as printed or stamped on money.
2 the superficial appearance or implication of a thing. face-worker a miner who works at the coalface. have the face be shameless enough. in one's (or the) face 1 straight against one; as one approaches.
2 confronting.
in face (or the face) of
1 despite.
2 confronted by. let's face it colloq. we must be honest or realistic about it. on the face of it as it would appear. put a bold (or brave) face on it accept difficulty etc. cheerfully or with courage. put one's face on colloq. apply make-up to one's face. put a good face on make (a matter) look well. put a new face on alter the aspect of. save face preserve esteem; avoid humiliation. save a person's face enable a person to save face; forbear from humiliating a person. set one's face against oppose or resist with determination. to a person's face openly in a person's presence.
Derivatives:
faced adj. (also in comb.). facing adj. (also in comb.).
Etymology: ME f. OF ult. f. L facies


Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner\'s English Dictionary

face I. NOUN USES (faces) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. Please look at category 25 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword. 1. Your face is the front part of your head from your chin to the top of your forehead, where your mouth, eyes, nose, and other features are. A strong wind was blowing right in my face... He was going red in the face and breathing with difficulty... She had a beautiful face. N-COUNT: oft poss N 2. If your face is happy, sad, or serious, for example, the expression on your face shows that you are happy, sad, or serious. He was walking around with a sad face... The priest frowned into the light, his face puzzled. N-COUNT: poss N, adj N 3. The face of a cliff, mountain, or building is a vertical surface or side of it. ...the north face of the Eiger... He scrambled 200 feet up the cliff face. N-COUNT: with supp, oft N of n 4. The face of a clock or watch is the surface with the numbers or hands on it, which shows the time. N-COUNT 5. If you say that the face of an area, institution, or field of activity is changing, you mean its appearance or nature is changing. ...the changing face of the British countryside... N-SING: the N of n 6. If you refer to something as the particular face of an activity, belief, or system, you mean that it is one particular aspect of it, in contrast to other aspects. Who ever thought people would see Arsenal as the acceptable face of football? N-SING: the adj N of n 7. If you lose face, you do something which makes you appear weak and makes people respect or admire you less. If you do something in order to save face, you do it in order to avoid appearing weak and losing people's respect or admiration. To cancel the airport would mean a loss of face for the present governor... She claimed they'd been in love, but I sensed she was only saying this to save face. N-UNCOUNT 8. see also about-face, face value, poker face 9. If you say that someone can do something until they are blue in the face, you are emphasizing that however much they do it, it will not make any difference. You can criticise him until you're blue in the face, but you'll never change his personality. PHRASE: V inflects [emphasis] 10. If someone or something is face down, their face or front points downwards. If they are face up, their face or front points upwards. All the time Stephen was lying face down and unconscious in the bath tub... Charles laid down his cards face up. PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR 11. You can use the expression 'on the face of the earth' to mean 'in the whole world', when you are emphasizing a statement that you are making or making a very exaggerated statement. No human being on the face of the earth could do anything worse than what he did. PHRASE: n PHR, usu after adj-superl/brd-neg [emphasis] 12. If you come face to face with someone, you meet them and can talk to them or look at them directly. We were strolling into the town when we came face to face with Jacques Dubois... It was the first face-to-face meeting between the two men. PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR n, oft PHR with n 13. If you come face to face with a difficulty or reality, you cannot avoid it and have to deal with it. Eventually, he came face to face with discrimination again... PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR n 14. If an action or belief flies in the face of accepted ideas or rules, it seems to completely oppose or contradict them. ...scientific principles that seem to fly in the face of common sense... PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n 15. If you take a particular action or attitude in the face of a problem or difficulty, you respond to that problem or difficulty in that way. The Prime Minister has called for national unity in the face of the violent anti-government protests... PREP-PHRASE 16. If you have a long face, you look very unhappy or serious. He came to me with a very long face. PHRASE: N inflects 17. If you make a face, you show a feeling such as dislike or disgust by putting an exaggerated expression on your face, for example by sticking out your tongue. In British English, you can also say pull a face. Opening the door, she made a face at the musty smell... Kathryn pulled a face at Thomas behind his back. PHRASE: V and N inflect, oft PHR at n 18. You say on the face of it when you are describing how something seems when it is first considered, in order to suggest that people's opinion may change when they know or think more about the subject. It is, on the face of it, difficult to see how the West could radically change its position. PHRASE: PHR with cl 19. If you put a brave face on a bad situation or put on a brave face, you try not to show how disappointed or upset you are about the situation. In American English you can also say put on a good face. Friends will see you are putting on a brave face and might assume you've got over your grief... Scientists are putting a good face on the troubles. PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR n 20. You can say that someone has set their face against something to indicate that they are opposed to it, especially when you want to suggest that they are wrong. (mainly BRIT) This Government has set its face against putting up income tax. PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n/-ing 21. If you show your face somewhere, you go there and see people, although you are not welcome, are rather unwilling to go, or have not been there for some time. I felt I ought to show my face at her father's funeral. PHRASE: V inflects, PHR adv/prep 22. If you manage to keep a straight face, you manage to look serious, although you want to laugh. What went through Tom's mind I can't imagine, but he did manage to keep a straight face... You have to wonder how anyone could say that seriously and with a straight face. PHRASE: PHR after v, with PHR 23. If you say something to someone's face, you say it openly in their presence. Her opponent called her a liar to her face. PHRASE: PHR after v 24. If a feeling is written all over your face or is written across your face, it is very obvious to other people from your expression. Relief and gratitude were written all over his face... I could just see the pain written across her face. PHRASE: V inflects 25. to shut the door in someone's face: see door to have egg on your face: see egg to cut off your nose to spite your face: see nose a slap in the face: see slap II. VERB AND PHRASAL VERB USES (faces, facing, faced) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. Please look at category 8 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword. 1. If someone or something faces a particular thing, person, or direction, they are positioned opposite them or are looking in that direction. They stood facing each other... The garden faces south. VERB: V n, V adv/prep 2. If you face someone or something, you turn so that you are looking at them. She stood up from the table and faced him... Stand up. Face the wall. VERB: V n, V n 3. If you have to face a person or group, you have to stand or sit in front of them and talk to them, although it may be difficult and unpleasant. Christie looked relaxed and calm as he faced the press... VERB: V n 4. If you face or are faced with something difficult or unpleasant, or if it faces you, it is going to affect you and you have to deal with it. Williams faces life in prison if convicted of attempted murder... We are faced with a serious problem. VERB: V n, be V-ed with n 5. If you face the truth or face the facts, you accept that something is true. If you face someone with the truth or with the facts, you try to make them accept that something is true. Although your heart is breaking, you must face the truth that a relationship has ended... He accused the Government of refusing to face facts about the economy... He called a family conference and faced them with the problems. VERB: V n, V n, V n with n • Face up to means the same as face. I have grown up now and I have to face up to my responsibilities... PHRASAL VERB: V P P n 6. If you cannot face something, you do not feel able to do it because it seems so difficult or unpleasant. My children want me with them for Christmas Day, but I can't face it... I couldn't face seeing anyone. VERB: with neg, V n/-ing, V n/-ing 7. You use the expression 'let's face it' when you are stating a fact or making a comment about something which you think the person you are talking to may find unpleasant or be unwilling to admit. She was always attracted to younger men. But, let's face it, who is not? PHRASE: PHR with cl 8. face the music: see music

English-Old English dictionary

face
andwlita, andwlita

Poetical Quotations

FACE There's no art To find the mind's construction in the face. Macbeth, Act i. Sc. 4. SHAKESPEARE. Your face, my thane, is a book where men May read strange matters. To beguile the time, Look like the time. Macbeth, Act i. Sc 5. SHAKESPEARE. Her face so faire, as flesh it seemed not, But heavenly pourtraict of bright angels' hew, Cleare as the skye withouten blame or blot, Through goodly mixture of complexion's dew. Faërie Queene, Canto III. E. SPENSER. The light upon her face Shines from the windows of another world. Saints only have such faces. Michael Angelo. H.W. LONGFELLOW. Oh! could you view the melody Of every grace, And music of her face. Orpheus to Beasts. R. LOVELACE. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger. Hamlet, Act i. Sc. 2. SHAKESPEARE. In each cheek appears a pretty dimple; Love made those hollows; if himself were slain, He might be buried in a tomb so simple; Foreknowing well, if there he came to lie, Why, there Love lived and there he could not die. Venus and Adonis. SHAKESPEARE. There Affectation, with a sickly mien, Shows in her cheek the roses of eighteen. Rape of the Lock, Canto IV. A. POPE. Sweet, pouting lips, whose color mocks the rose, Rich, ripe, and teeming with the dew of bliss,-- The flower of love's forbidden fruit, which grows Insidiously to tempt us with a kiss. Tasso's Sonnets. R.H. WILDE. Her face betokened all things dear and good, The light of somewhat yet to come was there Asleep, and waiting for the opening day. Margaret in the Xebec. J. INGELOW. Her face is like the Milky Way i' the sky,-- A meeting of gentle lights without a name. Breunoralt. SIR J. SUCKLING. A face with gladness overspread! Soft smiles, by human kindness bred! To a Highland Girl. W. WORDSWORTH.

Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms (Version 1.9, June 2002)

FACE Framed Access Command Environment (Unix, SVR4)

Handy Dictionary of Poetical Quotations

Face Your face, my Thane, is as a book, where men May read strange matters. SHAKESPEARE: Macbeth, Act i., Sc. 5. The light upon her face Shines from the windows of another world. Saints only have such faces. LONGFELLOW: Michael Angelo, Pt. ii., 6. Can't I another's face commend, And to her virtues be a friend, But instantly your forehead lowers, As if her_ merit lessen'd _yours? MOORE: The Farmer, the Spaniel, and the Cat, Fable ix. Behind a frowning providence He hides a shining face. COWPER: Light Shining out of Darkness.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Face \Face\, n. [F., from L. facies form, shape, face, perh. from facere to make (see Fact); or perh. orig. meaning appearance, and from a root meaning to shine, and akin to E. fancy. Cf. Facetious.] 1. The exterior form or appearance of anything; that part which presents itself to the view; especially, the front or upper part or surface; that which particularly offers itself to the view of a spectator. A mist . . . watered the whole face of the ground. --Gen. ii. 6. Lake Leman wooes me with its crystal face. --Byron. 2. That part of a body, having several sides, which may be seen from one point, or which is presented toward a certain direction; one of the bounding planes of a solid; as, a cube has six faces. 3. (Mach.) (a) The principal dressed surface of a plate, disk, or pulley; the principal flat surface of a part or object. (b) That part of the acting surface of a cog in a cog wheel, which projects beyond the pitch line. (c) The width of a pulley, or the length of a cog from end to end; as, a pulley or cog wheel of ten inches face. 4. (Print.) (a) The upper surface, or the character upon the surface, of a type, plate, etc. (b) The style or cut of a type or font of type. 5. Outside appearance; surface show; look; external aspect, whether natural, assumed, or acquired. To set a face upon their own malignant design. --Milton. This would produce a new face of things in Europe. --Addison. We wear a face of joy, because We have been glad of yore. --Wordsworth. 6. That part of the head, esp. of man, in which the eyes, cheeks, nose, and mouth are situated; visage; countenance. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. --Gen. iii. 19. 7. Cast of features; expression of countenance; look; air; appearance. We set the best faceon it we could. --Dryden. 8. (Astrol.) Ten degrees in extent of a sign of the zodiac. --Chaucer. 9. Maintenance of the countenance free from abashment or confusion; confidence; boldness; shamelessness; effrontery. This is the man that has the face to charge others with false citations. --Tillotson. 10. Presence; sight; front; as in the phrases, before the face of, in the immediate presence of; in the face of, before, in, or against the front of; as, to fly in the face of danger; to the face of, directly to; from the face of, from the presence of. 11. Mode of regard, whether favorable or unfavorable; favor or anger; mostly in Scriptural phrases. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee. --Num. vi. 25. My face [favor] will I turn also from them. --Ezek. vii. 22. 12. (Mining) The end or wall of the tunnel, drift, or excavation, at which work is progressing or was last done. 13. (Com.) The exact amount expressed on a bill, note, bond, or other mercantile paper, without any addition for interest or reduction for discount.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Face \Face\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Faced; p. pr. & vb. n. Facing.] 1. To meet in front; to oppose with firmness; to resist, or to meet for the purpose of stopping or opposing; to confront; to encounter; as, to face an enemy in the field of battle. I'll face This tempest, and deserve the name of king. --Dryden. 2. To Confront impudently; to bully. I will neither be facednor braved. --Shak. 3. To stand opposite to; to stand with the face or front toward; to front upon; as, the apartments of the general faced the park. He gained also with his forces that part of Britain which faces Ireland. --Milton. 4. To cover in front, for ornament, protection, etc.; to put a facing upon; as, a building faced with marble. 5. To line near the edge, esp. with a different material; as, to face the front of a coat, or the bottom of a dress. 6. To cover with better, or better appearing, material than the mass consists of, for purpose of deception, as the surface of a box of tea, a barrel of sugar, etc. 7. (Mach.) To make the surface of (anything) flat or smooth; to dress the face of (a stone, a casting, etc.); esp., in turning, to shape or smooth the flat surface of, as distinguished from the cylindrical surface. 8. To cause to turn or present a face or front, as in a particular direction. To face down, to put down by bold or impudent opposition. ``He faced men down.'' --Prior. To face (a thing) out, to persist boldly or impudently in an assertion or in a line of conduct. ``That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.'' --Shak.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Face \Face\, v. i. 1. To carry a false appearance; to play the hypocrite. ``To lie, to face, to forge.'' --Spenser. 2. To turn the face; as, to face to the right or left. Face about, man; a soldier, and afraid! --Dryden. 3. To present a face or front.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

FACE fas: In Hebrew the translation of three expressions: (1) panim (2) `ayin, literally, "eye" and (3) 'aph, literally, "nose," "nostril," already noted under the word COUNTENANCE, which see. The first and second of these words are used synonymously, even in metaphorical expressions, as, for example in the phrase "the face of the earth," where panim is used (De 6:15 et passim) and `ayin (Nu 22:5 et passim). The third expression preserves more clearly its original meaning. It is generally used in the phrases "to bow one's self to the earth," "to fall on one's face," where the nose actually touched the ground. Often "my face," "thy face" is mere oriental circumlocution for the personal pronoun "I," "me," "thou," "thee." "In thy face" means "in thy presence;" and is often so translated. A very large number of idiomatic Hebrew expressions have been introduced into our language through the medium of the Bible translation. We notice the most important of these phrases. "To seek the face" is to seek an audience with a prince or with God, to seek favor (Ps 24:6; 27:8; 105:4; Pr 7:15; Ho 5:15; compare Pr 29:26, where the Revised Version (British and American) translates "Many seek the ruler's favor," literally, many seek the face (Hebrew pene) of a ruler). If God "hides his face" He withdraws His presence, His favor (De 32:20; Job 34:29; Ps 13:1; 30:7; 143:7; Isa 54:8; Jer 33:5; Eze 39:23,14; Mic 3:4). Such withdrawal of the presence of God is to be understood as a consequence of man's personal disobedience, not as a wrathful denial of God's favor (Isa 59:2). God is asked to "hide his face," i.e. to disregard or overlook (Ps 51:9; compare Ps 10:11). This is also the idea of the prayer: "Cast me not away from thy presence" (literally, "face," Ps 51:11), and of the promise: "The upright shall dwell in thy presence" (literally, "face," Ps 140:13). If used of men, "to hide the face" expresses humility and reverence before an exalted presence (Ex 3:6; Isa 6:2); similarly Elijah "wrapped his face in his mantle" when God passed by (1Ki 19:13). The "covering of the face" is a sign of mourning (2Sa 19:4 = Eze 12:6,12); a "face covered with fatness" is synonymous with prosperity and arrogance (Job 15:27); to have one's face covered by another person is a sign of hopeless doom, as if one were already dead. This was done to Human, when judgment had been pronounced over him (Es 7:8). "To turn away one's face" is a sign of insulting indifference or contempt (2Ch 29:6; Eze 14:6; Sirach 4:4; compare Jer 2:27; 18:17; 32:33); on the part of God an averted face is synonymous with rejection (Ps 13:1; 27:9; 88:14). "To harden the face" means to harden one's self against any sort of appeal (Pr 21:29; Isa 50:7; Jer 5:3; compare Eze 3:9). See also SPIT. In this connection we also mention the phrase "to respect persons," literally, to "recognize the face" (Le 19:15, or, slightly different in expression, De 1:17; 16:19; Pr 24; 23; 28:21), in the sense of unjustly favoring a person, or requiting him with undue evil. Compare also the Hebrew hadhar (Ex 23:3 the King James Version), "to countenance" (see under the word). The "showbread" meant literally, "bread of the face," "of the presence," Hebrew lechem panim; Greek artoi enopioi, artoi tes protheseos. H. L. E. Luering

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Face means simply presence, as when it is recorded that Adam and Eve hid themselves from the "face [R.V., 'presence'] of the Lord God" (Gen. 3:8; comp. Ex. 33:14, 15, where the same Hebrew word is rendered "presence"). The "light of God's countenance" is his favour (Ps. 44:3; Dan. 9:17). "Face" signifies also anger, justice, severity (Gen. 16:6, 8; Ex. 2:15; Ps. 68:1; Rev. 6:16). To "provoke God to his face" (Isa. 65:3) is to sin against him openly. The Jews prayed with their faces toward the temple and Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:38, 44, 48; Dan. 6:10). To "see God's face" is to have access to him and to enjoy his favour (Ps. 17:15; 27:8). This is the privilege of holy angels (Matt. 18:10; Luke 1:19). The "face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6) is the office and person of Christ, the revealer of the glory of God (John 1:14, 18).

Soule\'s Dictionary of English Synonyms

face I. n. 1. Surface, external part. 2. Front, front, part. 3. Visage, countenance. 4. Look, appearance, semblance, external aspect. 5. Confidence, assurance, boldness, impudence, audacity, effrontery, brass. II. v. a. 1. Confront, meet in front, meet face to face. 2. Front, stand opposite to, stand over against. 3. Put a face or surface on, polish, dress, smooth, level. 4. Cover, put a facing on, incrust, veneer. 5. Put face upward. III. v. n. Front, turn the face.

English Explanatory Dictionary (Synonyms)

face feɪs n. 1 visage, countenance, physiognomy, features, lineaments, Slang mug, mush, kisser, pan, puss, Brit phiz, phizog, dial, clock: I don't like the expression on your face. 2 look, appearance, aspect, expression, mien: He has the face of someone who is very proud of himself. Modern farming has changed the face of the countryside. 3 mask, veneer, faúade, front, camouflage, pretence, disguise, (false) impression, semblance, masquerade: She puts on a bold face, but we know she was deeply hurt by your remarks. 4 dignity, image, self-respect, standing, reputation, repute, name, honour, status: You might lose face if you admit you were wrong. 5 boldness, daring, audacity, effrontery, impudence, impertinence, presumption, brashness, Colloq gall, brass, nerve, cheek, guts, gutsiness, Brit brass neck, Slang US balls: Who would have the face to name such a hotel 'The Palace'? 6 surface, exterior, front, outside, cover, facing, faúade, skin: The building will have a face of white marble. 7 right side, obverse, front; dial: The card landed face up. The face of the clock is enamelled. 8 face to face. confronting, facing, opposite, en face, vis-å-vis, téte-å-téte, å deux, eye to eye, head to head, Colloq eyeball to eyeball: We met face to face for the first time in the courtroom. 9 in the face of. in defiance of, notwithstanding, despite, in spite of, confronting, in opposition to: Some experts attacked the report for flying in the face of received wisdom. 10 make a face. grimace, change one's expression, murgeon: When I said I would be there, she made a face. 11 on the face of it. to all or outward appearances, seemingly, apparently, superficially, evidently: On the face of it, I assumed that he was guilty. 12 show one's face. put in or make an appearance, appear, arrive, be seen, turn up, Colloq show up: I suppose I ought to show my face at the office party. 13 to one's face. directly, brazenly, eye to eye, face to face, candidly, openly, frankly: I told him to his face that he was a liar. --v. 14 confront, brave, meet (with), encounter, experience, deal or cope with, come or go up against; appear before: In the jungle we faced grave danger from man-eating tigers. She faces her first audience tonight. 15 give (out) or front on or onto, front towards, overlook, look out on or over; be opposite: Our rooms face the lake. Facing page 22 is a map of the area. 16 coat, surface, cover, clad, dress, sheathe, overlay, finish; veneer: The collar is faced with velvet. 17 face down. confront, intimidate, cow, subdue, overawe, browbeat: I'll not be faced down by that impudent clerk. 18 face up to. a admit, accept, acknowledge, allow, confess: We must all face up to our own shortcomings. b confront, deal or cope with, come or go up against, brave, come to terms with; brazen through or out, bite (on) the bullet, grasp the nettle: You wouldn't be able to face up to your wife if you'd forgotten her birthday.

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

535 Moby Thesaurus words for "face": Communist threat, Western imperialism, accept, account, acknowledge, acting, admit, affectation, affront, air, allow, anteriority, anticipate, apparently, appear, appearance, apply paint, approach, arrive, arrogance, ascender, aspect, atrocity story, attitudinizing, audacity, await, back, balls, banner, banter, bastard type, battle hymn, be imminent, be in store, be seen, beard, bearing, bedaub, bedizen, begild, bell the cat, belly, besmear, bevel, bid defiance, bite the bullet, black letter, bloody shirt, bluff, bluffing, board, boastfulness, body, bold front, boldness, border, brashness, brass, brave, brave face, brave front, brazen, brazen out, brazenly, breast, brew, brick, bring before, bring forward, bring up, brow, browbeat, brush on paint, bump heads, calcimine, call out, camouflage, candidly, cap, capital, carriage, case, cast, cast of countenance, ceil, challenge, cheating, cheek, chutzpah, circumference, clad, clapboard, cliff, cloak, clock, close, coat, color, coloring, colors, come on, come up against, complexion, conceit, confess, confront, confront with, confronting, contemplate, contend, contrapose, contraposit, contrast, conversion factor, cope with, cortex, countenance, counter, counteract, cover, covering, cow, crag, crostarie, crust, dab, dare, daring, daub, deal with, deception, deep-dye, defy, delusion, demeanor, descender, despite, dial, dignity, dip, directly, disguise, display, dissemblance, dissembling, dissimulation, distemper, double-dare, double-dye, draw near, draw nigh, draw on, dread, dress, dye, effrontery, em, emblazon, en, enamel, encounter, engild, envelope, envisage, epidermis, escarpment, evidently, expansionism, expect, experience, expression, exterior, external, eyeball to eyeball, facade, face down, face out, face the music, face to face, face up, face up to, face upon, face value, face with, facet, facia, facial appearance, facies, facing, fakery, faking, false, false air, false front, false show, falsity, fast-dye, fat-faced type, favor, feather, feature, features, feet, feigning, feint, fiery cross, fight, fill, finish, font, fore, forefront, foreground, forehand, foreland, forepart, forequarter, foresee, foreside, foreword, forthcome, four-flushing, frankly, fraud, fresco, fringe, front, front elevation, front man, front matter, front on, front page, front view, frontage, frontal, frontier, frontispiece, fur, gall, garb, gather, gaze, gild, gilt, give upon, glare, glass, glaze, gloss, gonfalon, grain, grimace, groove, guise, guts, gutsiness, hang over, haughtiness, have in mind, head, heading, high place, honor, hope, hover, hue, humbug, humbuggery, illuminate, image, imbue, impend, imperialist threat, impertinence, imposture, impudence, in defiance of, in opposition to, in spite of, independence, ingrain, inlay, integument, interline, intimidate, italic, japan, kisser, kudos, lacquer, lap, lath, lay before, lay on color, letter, lie opposite, lie over, ligature, line, lineaments, lines, load, logotype, look, look for, look out upon, look over, look toward, looks, loom, lower, lower case, majuscule, make a face, manifest destiny, map, market value, martial music, mask, masquerade, match, meet, meet boldly, meet head-on, meet squarely, meet with, menace, meretriciousness, mien, minuscule, mug, mush, muzzle, name, national anthem, near, nerve, net worth, nick, notwithstanding, obverse, openly, oppose, opposite, ostentation, outdare, outer face, outer layer, outer side, outer skin, outface, outline, outside, outward show, overawe, overhang, overlay, overlook, pack, pad, paint, palisade, palisades, pan, paper, par value, pardonable pride, parget, pennyworth, periphery, phiz, physiognomy, pi, pica, pigment, place before, plank, playacting, point, polarize, port, pose, pose against, posing, position, posture, precipice, preface, prefix, presence, present to, prestige, presume, presumption, pretense, pretension, pretext, pride, pridefulness, prime, print, priority, proscenium, proudness, purse-pride, puss, put in opposition, put it to, rank, rate, representation, reputation, repute, resist, revet, right side, rind, roman, run the gauntlet, sans serif, scar, scarp, scream defiance, script, seeming, seemingly, self-confidence, self-consequence, self-determination, self-esteem, self-reliance, self-respect, self-sufficiency, semblance, set at defiance, set before, set over against, shade, shadow, shake, sham, shank, sheathe, shell, shellac, shingle, shoulder, show, show fight, show up, showing, simulacrum, simulation, skin, slate, slop on paint, small cap, small capital, smear, speak out, speak up, speciousness, stain, stamp, stance, stand opposed, stand opposite, stand up to, standing, stare, stare down, station, stature, status, steep, stem, stiff-necked pride, stiff-neckedness, stipple, stone, stuff, subdue, subtend, superficially, superficies, superstratum, surface, take, take for granted, tete-a-tete, thatch, think, threaten, tile, tinct, tincture, tinge, tint, tone, top, traits, turn, turn up, type, type body, type class, type lice, typecase, typeface, typefounders, typefoundry, undercoat, upper case, value, value received, vanity, varnish, veneer, venture, vis-a-vis, visage, wad, wainscot, wall, wall in, wall up, wallpaper, war song, wash, watch, weatherboard, window dressing, withstand, worth, yellow peril


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