Printer Friendly
The Free Dictionary
966,557,049 visitors served.
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

complexion

   Also found in: Medical, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
com·plex·ion  (km-plkshn)
n.
1. The natural color, texture, and appearance of the skin, especially of the face.
2. General character, aspect, or appearance: findings that will alter the complexion of the problem.
3. A viewpoint, inclination, or attitude: a conservative political complexion.
4. The combination of the four humors of cold, heat, moistness, and dryness in specific proportions, thought in ancient and medieval physiology to control the temperament and the constitution of the body.

[Middle English complexioun, physical constitution, from Old French complexion, from Late Latin complexi, complexin-, balance of the humors, from Latin, combination, from complexus, past participle of complect, to entwine; see complect.]

com·plexion·al adj.

complexion
Noun
1. the colour and general appearance of the skin of a person's face
2. character or nature: the political complexion of the government [Latin complexio a combination]

Complexion
See also skin.

absence of pigmentation in the skin.
greensickness; a disease of girls in puberty, characterized by, among other symptoms, greenishness of the complexion.
a redness of beard and hair and ruddiness of complexion. — erythristic, erythrismal, adj.
a mania for blushing.
paleness of color as a result of illness or exclusion from light. See also plants.
the condition of being florid or highly colored, especially reddish, used especially of the complexion. — florid, adj.
chlorosis.
jaundice.
a disease of the liver, characterized by, among other symptoms, yellowness of the skin. Also called icterus.
darkness or blackness of eyes, hair, or complexion.
1. the state, condition, quality, or process of becoming or being red.
2. a blush.
3. the act of blushing. — rubescent, adj.
reddishness or ruddiness, especially of the complexion. — rubicund, adj.
a chronic condition of dilatation of the capillaries and other blood vessels, as seen in the reddish faces of heavy drinkers and people whose faces are continually exposed to cold climates. — telangiectic, adj.
a person with light-colored hair and fair complexion. — xanthochroid, xanthochroous, adj.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.complexioncomplexion - the coloring of a person's face
color, coloring, colouring, colour - a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect; "a white color is made up of many different wavelengths of light"
blondness, paleness, fairness - the property of having a naturally light complexion
ruddiness, rosiness - a healthy reddish complexion
achromasia, lividness, paleness, pallidness, pallor, wanness, luridness, lividity - unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)
sallowness - a sickly yellowish skin color
tawniness - the quality or state of being the color of tanned leather; "the tawniness of his complexion"
swarthiness, duskiness, darkness - a swarthy complexion
whiteness - lightness or fairness of complexion; "only the whiteness of her cheeks gave any indication of the stress from which she was suffering"
2.complexion - a combination that results from coupling or interlinking; "diphthongs are complexions of vowels"
combination - a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities
3.complexion - a point of view or general attitude or inclination; "he altered the complexion of his times"; "a liberal political complexion"
point of view, standpoint, viewpoint, stand - a mental position from which things are viewed; "we should consider this problem from the viewpoint of the Russians"; "teaching history gave him a special point of view toward current events"
4.complexion - texture and appearance of the skin of the face
appearance, visual aspect - outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
5.complexion - (obsolete) a combination of elements (of dryness and warmth or of the four humors) that was once believed to determine a person's health and temperament
nature - the complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions; "it is his nature to help others"
archaicism, archaism - the use of an archaic expression
Verb1.complexion - give a certain color to; "The setting sun complexioned the hills"
tinct, tint, tinge, touch - color lightly; "her greying hair was tinged blond"; "the leaves were tinged red in November"

complexion
noun 1. skin, colour, colouring, hue, skin tone, pigmentation
Translations
Spanish complexion [kəmˈplɛkʃən] n [of face] → tez f; cutis m;
(fig) → aspecto

French complexion [kəmˈplɛkʃən] n [of face] → teint m [of event etc]; aspect m, caractère m
German complexion [kəmˈplɛkʃən] nTeint m, Gesichtsfarbe f;
(of event etc) → Charakter m;
(political, religious) → Anschauung f;
to put a different complexion on sth → etw in einem anderen Licht erscheinen lassen

Italian complexion [kəmˈplɛkʃən] n [of face] → carnagione f [of event etc] → aspetto

?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
The startling contrast between the corpse-like pallor of her complexion and the overpowering life and light, the glittering metallic brightness in her large black eyes, held him literally spell-bound.
And off I started, cursorily glancing sideways as I passed the toilet-table, surmounted by a looking-glass: a thin irregular face I saw, with sunk, dark eyes under a large, square forehead, complexion destitute of bloom or attraction; something young, but not youthful, no object to win a lady's love, no butt for the shafts of Cupid.
Her skin was very brown, but, from its transparency, her complexion was uncommonly brilliant; her features were all good; her smile was sweet and attractive; and in her eyes, which were very dark, there was a life, a spirit, an eagerness, which could hardily be seen without delight.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2008 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.