A complexion or appearance; the color and texture of the skin, especially of the face; in older usage, a general appearance or aspect.
From Late Latin complexio, derived from complectere (to embrace, comprise). The word originally meant 'a combining together' before narrowing to refer to facial appearance. It's related to 'complexion' but represents an alternate historical development.
In medieval medicine, 'complection' wasn't just about skin color—it referred to the balance of the four humors, so saying someone had a 'ruddy complection' meant they were supposedly blood-dominated and hot-tempered.
Historically used alongside 'temperament' in medical and social contexts to describe women's character; 'sanguine complection' implied personality traits (cheerfulness), conflating physiology with fixed feminine character. This reinforced the idea that women's biology determined their social roles.
Use 'complexion' or 'skin tone' for physical description; avoid linking to personality, temperament, or capability. When discussing medical history, clarify that early theories wrongly conflated appearance with character.
["complexion","skin tone","appearance"]
Women physicians and dermatologists in the 19th-20th centuries challenged humoral theory and colorism, establishing that skin tone and appearance carry no behavioral or intellectual implications.
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