English
face
Face comes from Latin faciēs ‘form, appearance’, from faciō ‘to do’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰeh₁k-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰh₁kyétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*θakjōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*fakjō‘to make’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfaciō‘to do’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfaciēs‘form’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEfacia
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400face
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500face
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1590–1592face
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰeh₁k-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰh₁kyétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*θakjōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*fakjō‘to make’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfaciō‘to do’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfaciēs‘form’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEfacia
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400face
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500face
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1590–1592face
Earliest quotation: c. 1590–1592, William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew: “Face not mee: thou haſt brau'd manie men, braue…”
The story
In the sense of face as in reputation, influenced by Chinese 面子 (miànzi) or 臉／脸 (liǎn), both of which mean literally the front of the head and metaphorically one's public image.
Linked words
through Proto-Italic *θakjō
effectively, effectiveness, ineffective, affectionate, imperfection, putrefaction, 66 more
through Proto-Italic *fakjō ‘to make’
effective, difficulty, factor, perfection, affection, manufacture, imperfect, faction, affective, defection, defector, effector, affectation, confectionary, 72 more
through Latin faciō ‘to make, construct, fashion, frame, build, erect’
perfect, difficult, effect, feature, profit, fact, affect, efficient, infection, facility, deficit, affair, feat, sacrifice, faculty, defect, facilitate, fetish, efficacy, counterfeit, infect, deficient, aficionado, maleficent, hacienda, facsimile, beautify, confection, difficile, efficacious, refectory, confit, parfait, beneficent, 86 more
through Latin faciēs ‘form, appearance’
superficial, facial, facies, 6 more
through Late Latin facia
Today it means
noun The front part of the head of a human or other animal, featuring the eyes, nose, and mouth, and the surrounding area.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k- / face