Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having eyes that appear to be set far back in the face, often creating a shadowed or hollow appearance: This is the primary meaning, describing the physical characteristic of eyes that are recessed into the skull.
   • Firmly established or ingrained: A less common, figurative meaning describing something that is deeply fixed or rooted.

Usage and Examples

• Primary Meaning (Physical Appearance):

  • His deep-set eyes gave him a thoughtful, intense expression.
  • The old sailor had a weathered face with deep-set, piercing blue eyes.

• Figurative Meaning (Firmly Established):

  • She held a deep-set belief in justice. (This usage is less frequent and often replaced by synonyms like "deep-seated" or "deep-rooted".)

Advanced Usage

• The term is typically used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., deep-set eyes). It is not commonly used predicatively (e.g., "His eyes are deep-set" is possible but less frequent than the attributive use).
• It often carries connotations of wisdom, seriousness, age, or intensity due to the shadowed appearance it describes.

Variants and Related Words

• Sunken: Often used synonymously to describe recessed eyes or cheeks (e.g., ).
• Deep-seated: An adjective meaning firmly established, especially for abstract things like beliefs or fears. This is the preferred term for the figurative meaning.
• Deep-rooted: Similar to "deep-seated," meaning firmly fixed or established.

Synonyms

• Recessed: Set back or embedded in a hollow.
• Hollow-eyed: Having eyes that appear deep and surrounded by shadow, often due to tiredness or illness.

Antonyms

• Protruding: Sticking out; projecting.
• Bulging: Swelling outward.
• Prominent: Standing out; projecting.

Notes

• "Deep-set" is a hyphenated compound adjective. The hyphen is essential when it precedes the noun it modifies (attributive position).
• While the figurative use exists, it is important to note that "deep-seated" is the standard and more common adjective for describing ingrained beliefs, traditions, or problems. Using "deep-set" in this way might be considered non-standard or a less common variant.

Adjective

1. having a sunken area
   • hunger gave their faces a sunken look