Definition

1. Noun:
   • A distinctive feature or detail of a face: "Lineament" refers to the characteristic parts or contours of a person's face, such as the eyes, nose, mouth, and chin, which together define its appearance.
   • A distinguishing characteristic or feature: More broadly, "lineament" can denote any distinctive feature or quality that defines the nature of something.

Usage

• The word "lineament" is a formal and somewhat literary term. It is most commonly used in its plural form, "lineaments," especially when referring to facial features.
• It is used to describe both the physical contours of a face and the abstract, defining qualities of an object or concept.

Examples

• Referring to facial features:
  • The portrait artist carefully captured the gentle lineaments of her subject's face.
  • His strong lineaments were etched with experience.
• Referring to distinguishing features:
  • The lineaments of the new political movement were still unclear.
  • One could see the lineaments of a great tragedy in the story's opening chapters.

Advanced Usage

• "The lineaments of": This phrase is used to describe the recognizable or defining features of something, often something abstract.
  • The report outlined the basic lineaments of the proposed policy.
  • Her poetry bears the lineaments of deep personal grief.

Variants and Related Words

• Feature (n): A distinctive attribute or aspect of something. (A more common and general synonym).
• Contour (n): The outline of a shape, especially a curving or irregular one. (Often used for geographical or facial shapes).
• Characteristic (n): A feature or quality belonging typically to a person, place, or thing and serving to identify it.

Synonyms

• Trait: A distinguishing quality or characteristic.
• Attribute: A quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.
• Aspect: A particular part or feature of something.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary and most specific meaning of "lineament" relates to the shape and form of facial features.
• Its secondary meaning extends to any defining feature or characteristic that gives something its identifiable nature. This usage is metaphorical, comparing abstract qualities to the defining lines of a face.

Noun

1. the characteristic parts of a person's face: eyes and nose and mouth and chin
   • an expression of pleasure crossed his features
   • his lineaments were very regular
2. a characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something
   • each town has a quality all its own
   • the radical character of our demands