Face

n. [Fr. face, Pr. fassa, It. faccia, O. Sp. faz, N. Sp. haz, from Lat. facies, make, form, shape, face, from facere, to make.]

1Sense 1. The exterior form or appearance of any thing; that part which presents itself to the view; especially, the front part or surface; that which particularly offers itself to the view of a spectator. “The whole face of the ground.” Gen. ii. 6.

Lake Leman wooes me with its crystal face. Byron.

2Sense 2. A surface of a thing; that part of a body 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.

3Sense 3. (Mach.) The principal dressed surface of a plate, disk, or pulley; the principal flat surface of a part.

4Sense 4. Outside appearance; surface show; look; external aspect, whether natural, assumed, or acquired. “A face of gravity and piety in the former administration.” Burnet.

They took him to set a face upon their own malignant designs. Milton.

This would produce a new face of things in Europe. Addison.

5Sense 5. That part of the head of an animal, especially of a human being, in which are the principal organs of sense, as the eyes, the nose, the mouth; visage; countenance.

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. Gen. iii. 19.

6Sense 6. Cast of features; expression of countenance; look; air.

We set the best face on it we could. Dryden.

7Sense 7. Maintenance of the countenance free from abasement or confusion; confidence; boldness; shamelessness; effrontery; brass.

This is the man that has the face to charge others with false citations. Tillotson.

8Sense 8. 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; and the like.

9Sense 9. Mode of regard, whether favorable or unfavorable; favor or anger; mostly in scriptural phrases. “I will set my face against them.” Ezek. xv. 7.

Came I forth diligently to seek thy face [i. e., favor]. Prov. vii. 15.

To make a face, to distort the countenance; to put on an unnatural or purposely altered look. Face to face, one against another; in the immediate presence.—Face of a bastion (Mil.), the part between the salient and the shoulder angle. [See Illust. of Bastion.]—Face of a gun (Mil.), the surface of metal at the muzzle.—Cylinder face (Steam Engin.), the flat part of a steam-cylinder on which a slide-valve moves.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. FACED (fäst); p. pr. & vb. n. FACING.]

1Sense 1. To meet in front; to oppose with firmness; to resist, or to meet for the purpose of stopping or opposing; as, to face an enemy in the field of battle.

I'll face This tempest, and deserve the name of king. Dryden.

2Sense 2. To stand opposite to; to stand with the face or front toward; to front upon. “The apartment of the general which faced the wife's.” Landor.

He gained, with his forces, that part of Britain which faces Ireland. Milton.

3Sense 3. To turn the front toward; to confront; to meet or oppose, without turning the back, with firmness or confidence.

A lie faces God, and shrinks from men. Bacon.

4Sense 4. To cover with additional superficies; to cover in front; as, a fortification faced with marble; to face a garment with silk.

5Sense 5. (Mach.) To make flat or smooth the surface of; to dress the face of.

To face down, to put down by bold or impudent opposition. “He faced men down.” Prior.

1Sense 1. To carry a false appearance; to play the hypocrite. “To lie, to face, to forge.” Hubbard.

2Sense 2. To turn the face; as, to face to the right or left.

Face about, man; a soldier, and afraid! Dryden.