complexion

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: com=plex=ion

CIDE DICTIONARY

complexion, n. [F. complexion, fr. L. complexio. See Complex, a.].

•  The state of being complex; complexity.  [1913 Webster]

  "Though the terms of propositions may be complex, yet . . . it is properly called a simple syllogism, since the complexion does not belong to the syllogistic form of it."  [1913 Webster]
•  A combination; a complex.  [1913 Webster]

  "This paragraph is . . . a complexion of sophisms."  [1913 Webster]
•  The bodily constitution; the temperament; habitude, or natural disposition; character; nature.  [1913 Webster]

  "If his complexion incline him to melancholy."  [1913 Webster]

  "It is the complexion of them all to leave the dam."  [1913 Webster]
•  The color or hue of the skin, esp. of the face.  [1913 Webster]

  "Tall was her stature, her complexion dark."  [1913 Webster]

  "Between the pale complexion of true love,
  And the red glow of scorn and proud disdain."  [1913 Webster]
•  The general appearance or aspect; as, the complexion of the sky; the complexion of the news.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

complexion, n.
1 the natural colour, texture, and appearance, of the skin, esp. of the face.
2 an aspect; a character (puts a different complexion on the matter).

Derivative

complexioned adj. (also in comb.)

Etymology

ME f. OF f. L complexio -onis (as COMPLEX): orig. = combination of supposed qualities determining the nature of a body

THESAURUS

complexion

achromatism, air, ambiversion, bearing, body-build, brand, brow, carriage, cast, cast of countenance, character, characteristic, characteristics, chromatism, chromism, color, color balance, color harmony, color scheme, coloration, coloring, composition, constituents, constitution, countenance, crasis, cycloid personality, cyclothymia, decorator color, demeanor, dharma, diathesis, disposition, ectomorphism, ectomorphy, endomorphism, endomorphy, ethos, extroversion, extrovertedness, face, facial appearance, fashion, favor, feature, features, fiber, form, frame, garb, genius, grain, guise, habit, hue, humor, humors, ilk, individualism, individuality, ingoingness, introversion, introvertedness, key, kind, lineaments, lines, looks, makeup, manner, mesomorphism, mesomorphy, mien, mode, mold, natural color, nature, other-directedness, outgoingness, pallor, personality, personality tendency, physiognomy, physique, port, posture, presence, property, quality, schizoid personality, schizothymia, shade, shape, skin color, somatotype, sort, spirit, stamp, stance, streak, stripe, style, suchness, syntony, system, temper, temperament, tendency, tenor, tinct, tincture, tinge, tint, tone, traits, turn, type, undercolor, vein, visage, way

ROGET THESAURUS

complexion

State

N state, condition, category, estate, lot, ease, trim, mood, pickle, plight, temper, aspect, dilemma, pass, predicament, constitution, habitude, diathesis, frame, fabric, stamp, set, fit, mold, mould, mode, modality, schesis, form, tone, tenor, turn, trim, guise, fashion, light, complexion, style, character, conditional, modal, formal, structural, organic, conditionally, as the matter stands, as things are, such being the case.

Color

N color, hue, tint, tinge, dye, complexion, shade, tincture, cast, livery, coloration, glow, flush, tone, key, pure color, positive color, primary color, primitive complementary color, three primaries, spectrum, chromatic dispersion, broken color, secondary color, tertiary color, local color, coloring, keeping, tone, value, aerial perspective, chromatics, spectrum analysis, spectroscopy, chromatism, chromatography, chromatology, prism, spectroscope, spectrograph, spectrometer, colorimeter (optical instruments), pigment, coloring matter, paint, dye, wash, distemper, stain, medium, mordant, oil paint, colored, colorific, tingent, tinctorial, chromatic, prismatic, full-colored, high-colored, deep-colored, doubly-dyed, polychromatic, chromatogenous, tingible, bright, vivid, intense, deep, fresh, unfaded, rich, gorgeous, gay, gaudy, florid, gay, garish, rainbow-colored, multihued, showy, flaunting, flashy, raw, crude, glaring, flaring, discordant, inharmonious, mellow, pastel, harmonious, pearly, sweet, delicate, tender, refined.

Appearance

N appearance, phenomenon, sight, spectacle, show, premonstration, scene, species, view, coup d'oeil, lookout, outlook, prospect, vista, perspective, bird's-eye view, scenery, landscape, picture, tableau, display, exposure, mise en sc ne, rising of the curtain, phantasm, phantom, pageant, spectacle, peep-show, raree-show, gallanty-show, ombres chinoises, magic lantern, phantasmagoria, dissolving views, biograph, cinematograph, moving pictures, panorama, diorama, cosmorama, georama, coup de theatre, jeu de theatre, pageantry, insignia, aspect, angle, phase, phasis, seeming, shape, guise, look, complexion, color, image, mien, air, cast, carriage, port, demeanor, presence, expression, first blush, face of the thing, point of view, light, lineament feature trait lines, outline, outside, contour, face, countenance, physiognomy, visage, phiz, cast of countenance, profile, tournure, cut of one s jib, metoposcopy, outside, apparent, seeming, ostensible, on view, apparently, to all seeming, to all appearance, ostensibly, seemingly, as it seems, on the face of it, prima facie, at the first blush, at first sight, in the eyes of, to the eye, editio princeps.