Facies

/ˈfeɪʃiːz/ noun

Definition

The general appearance or aspect of something, especially in medicine the characteristic appearance of a face in disease, or in geology the distinctive character of a rock formation.

Etymology

From Latin 'facies' meaning face, appearance, or aspect. The word was adopted directly into medical and geological terminology where it remains standard.

Kelly Says

Doctors use 'facies' to describe disease signatures—a 'myopathic facies' shows weak facial muscles, a 'moon facies' shows the puffy face from steroid use—reading someone's face is diagnosis!

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