hard-faced
Meaning
showing no sympathy or kindness; having a severe or unsympathetic expression.
(of a material or object) having a hard, unyielding surface.
Structure
Usage
the hard-faced chairman announced the layoffs without any apparent remorse.
he was a hard-faced man who had seen too much of the world's cruelty.
the building was constructed from hard-faced concrete, giving it a stark, industrial look.
Etymology
the compound 'hard-faced' is a straightforward combination of two english elements with germanic and romance lineages respectively. the old english root 'heard' conveys physical toughness and, by extension, severity of character. the element 'faced' derives from the latin 'facies', which entered english via norman french, originally meaning form or appearance. when combined, the term literally describes one possessing a firm or severe countenance. this literal meaning evolved into a figurative sense describing a person who is unsympathetic or ruthless, as their demeanor appears unyielding and lacking in soft emotion. the term perfectly illustrates how physical descriptors are applied metaphorically to character traits.
Analysis
hard: from old english 'heard', meaning solid, firm, severe. functions as an adjective modifying the nature of the 'face'. faced: from old french 'face', from latin 'facies' (form, appearance, face). the suffix '-ed' indicates possessing or having the quality of. functions as a participial adjective forming the second element of the compound.