aquiline
Adjective: 1. Curved or hooked like an eagle's beak: Used primarily to describe the shape of a human nose that is prominent, curved, and often considered distinctive or noble. 2. Of or like an eagle: Pertaining to or resembling an eagle in nature or appearance (this meaning is less common in modern usage).
The word "aquiline" is most frequently used as a descriptive adjective, particularly in formal or literary contexts. It is almost exclusively applied to describe the shape of a nose. It carries connotations of strength, nobility, or a distinguished appearance, often associated with historical or authoritative figures.
- Describing a nose:
- He had a strong, aquiline nose and a determined jaw.
- Her most striking feature was her aquiline profile.
- Literary/Descriptive use:
- The statue depicted a Roman emperor with an aquiline visage.
- The old portrait showed a man with sharp, aquiline features.
- Metaphorical Extension: While rare, "aquiline" can be used metaphorically to describe something with a sharp, curved, or predatory quality reminiscent of an eagle.
- The fighter jet made an aquiline dive toward its target. (This usage is poetic and not standard.)
- Aquiline nose (n): A specific compound term for a nose with a pronounced, curved bridge.
- An aquiline nose is sometimes called a "Roman nose."
- Aquilinity (n): The quality of being aquiline (this noun form is extremely rare and not in common use).
- Hooked: (More common and less formal) Curved like a hook.
- Roman: Specifically used for a nose with a high, curved bridge.
- Curved: (General) Having a bend that is not sharp.
- Beak-like: (Descriptive) Resembling the beak of a bird.
- Snub: Short and turned up at the end.
- Straight: Without a curve or bend.
- Flat: Lacking a prominent bridge.
The primary and almost exclusive contemporary meaning of "aquiline" is the first one: describing a curved, eagle-like nose. The second definition ("of or like an eagle") is largely archaic and would typically be found in older poetic texts. In modern English, "eagle-like" or "aquiline" in its nasal sense are the standard usages.
-
curved down like an eagle's beak
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ tương tự
Từ có nhắc đến "aquiline"
