Word
complexion
Phoneticscom·plex·ion
US/kəmˈpɫɛkʃən/
UK/kəmplˈɛkʃən/
Definitions
01skin appearance
n. the natural color, texture, and appearance of the skin on your face.
n. the natural color, texture, and general appearance of the skin on a person's face.
“She has a very clear complexion because she drinks a lot of water.”
“The dermatologist noted that the patient's ruddy complexion was likely a result of chronic sun exposure rather than a systemic illness.”
Synonyms
03historical temperament
n. an old medical idea about a person's physical and mental balance.
n. the combination of bodily humours formerly believed to determine a person's health and temperament.
“In the past, doctors believed a person's complexion was determined by their blood.”
“Medieval medical texts often categorized patients by their complexion, linking physical traits to the four humours of the body.”
Archaic · Technical
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“One suspect is described as a male with a dark complexion, approximately six feet tall with a heavy build, who was armed with a handgun.” “In reference to Trump’s tangerine complexion, this has been nicknamed Latin America’s “orange wave” .” Etymology
From Middle English complexion (“temperament”), from Old French complexion (French complexion), from Medieval Latin complexiō (“complexion, constitution”), from complector, past participle complexus (“to entwine, encompass”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/complexion