from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Face \Face\ (f[=a]s), 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.
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A mist . . . watered the whole face of the ground.
--Gen. ii. 6.
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Lake Leman wooes me with its crystal face. --Byron.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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5. Outside appearance; surface show; look; external aspect,
whether natural, assumed, or acquired.
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To set a face upon their own malignant design.
--Milton.
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This would produce a new face of things in Europe.
--Addison.
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We wear a face of joy, because
We have been glad of yore. --Wordsworth.
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6. That part of the head, esp. of man, in which the eyes,
cheeks, nose, and mouth are situated; visage; countenance.
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In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.
--Gen. iii.
19.
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7. Cast of features; expression of countenance; look; air;
appearance.
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We set the best faceon it we could. --Dryden.
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8. (Astrol.) Ten degrees in extent of a sign of the zodiac.
--Chaucer.
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9. Maintenance of the countenance free from abashment or
confusion; confidence; boldness; shamelessness;
effrontery.
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This is the man that has the face to charge others
with false citations. --Tillotson.
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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.
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11. Mode of regard, whether favorable or unfavorable; favor
or anger; mostly in Scriptural phrases.
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The Lord make his face to shine upon thee. --Num.
vi. 25.
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My face [favor] will I turn also from them. --Ezek.
vii. 22.
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12. (Mining) The end or wall of the tunnel, drift, or
excavation, at which work is progressing or was last
done.
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13. (Com.) The exact amount expressed on a bill, note, bond,
or other mercantile paper, without any addition for
interest or reduction for discount; most commonly called
{face value}. --McElrath.
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Note: Face is used either adjectively or as part of a
compound; as, face guard or face-guard; face cloth;
face plan or face-plan; face hammer.
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{Face ague} (Med.), a form of neuralgia, characterized by
acute lancinating pains returning at intervals, and by
twinges in certain parts of the face, producing convulsive
twitches in the corresponding muscles; -- called also {tic
douloureux}.
{Face card}, one of a pack of playing cards on which a human
face is represented; the king, queen, or jack.
{Face cloth}, a cloth laid over the face of a corpse.
{Face guard}, a mask with windows for the eyes, worn by
workman exposed to great heat, or to flying particles of
metal, stone, etc., as in glass works, foundries, etc.
{Face hammer}, a hammer having a flat face.
{Face joint} (Arch.), a joint in the face of a wall or other
structure.
{Face mite} (Zool.), a small, elongated mite ({Demdex
folliculorum}), parasitic in the hair follicles of the
face.
{Face mold}, the templet or pattern by which carpenters,
etc., outline the forms which are to be cut out from
boards, sheet metal, etc.
{Face plate}.
(a) (Turning) A plate attached to the spindle of a lathe,
to which the work to be turned may be attached.
(b) A covering plate for an object, to receive wear or
shock.
(c) A true plane for testing a dressed surface. --Knight.
{Face wheel}. (Mach.)
(a) A crown wheel.
(b) A wheel whose disk face is adapted for grinding and
polishing; a lap.
{face value} the value written on a financial instrument;
same as {face[13]}. Also used metaphorically, to mean
apparent value; as, to take his statemnet at its face
value.
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{Cylinder face} (Steam Engine), the flat part of a steam
cylinder on which a slide valve moves.
{Face of an anvil}, its flat upper surface.
{Face of a bastion} (Fort.), the part between the salient and
the shoulder angle.
{Face of coal} (Mining), the principal cleavage plane, at
right angles to the stratification.
{Face of a gun}, the surface of metal at the muzzle.
{Face of a place} (Fort.), the front comprehended between the
flanked angles of two neighboring bastions. --Wilhelm.
{Face of a square} (Mil.), one of the sides of a battalion
when formed in a square.
{Face of a} {watch, clock, compass, card etc.}, the dial or
graduated surface on which a pointer indicates the time of
day, point of the compass, etc.
{Face to face}.
(a) In the presence of each other; as, to bring the
accuser and the accused face to face.
(b) Without the interposition of any body or substance.
"Now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to
face." 1 --Cor. xiii. 12.
(c) With the faces or finished surfaces turned inward or
toward one another; vis [`a] vis; -- opposed to {back
to back}.
{To fly in the face of}, to defy; to brave; to withstand.
{To make a face}, to distort the countenance; to make a
grimace; -- often expressing dislike, annoyance, or
disagreement. --Shak.
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