face
UK[feɪs]US[feɪs]
n
The front part of the head from the forehead to the chin.
n
An expression shown on the front part of the head.
n
The surface of something, especially the side that is presented or most often seen.
v
To have or turn the face towards something.
v
To confront and deal with a difficult or unpleasant situation.
Etymology
The word 'face' has a direct lineage from Latin, arriving in English via the Norman French spoken by the ruling class after the 1066 conquest. The Latin source 'facies' carried a broad meaning encompassing form, appearance, and the countenance, a semantic range that narrowed in English to primarily denote the front of the head. This evolution reflects a focus on the most immediate and recognizable aspect of a person's form. The verb senses, such as confronting a situation, developed metaphorically from the physical act of turning one's face towards something.
Analysis
The word 'face' is a simplex word. It entered English from Old French 'face', which derived from Vulgar Latin 'facia', a form based on Latin 'facies' meaning "form, appearance, face." The Latin term is likely from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to form, to make."
Examples
She had a big smile on her face.
The clock face was easy to read from across the room.
You must face your fears to overcome them.