complexion

noun

1. 1

   The quality, colour, or appearance of the skin on the face.

   a rugged complexion

   a sunburnt complexion

   Prince of Morocco: Mislike me not for my complexion, / The shadow’d livery of the burnish’d sun, / To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred. […]

   "I shall do nothing for the next week but study my costume and complexion," said she. "Ethel and myself will consider our conquests as proper compliments to your kindness."

2. 2

   figurativeThe outward appearance of something.

   It was a little unfortunate that the fib unfibbed gave their consultations something the complexion of that close understanding which exists between penitent and confessor.

3. 3

   Outlook, attitude, or point of view.

   That minister was galbet, or admiral of the realm, very much in his master’s confidence, and a person well versed in affairs, but of a morose and sour complexion.

   But the purely marginal jottings, done with no eye to the Memorandum Book, have a distinct complexion, and not only a distinct purpose, but none at all; this it is which imparts to them a value.

   The feminist complexion of NOLAG was shown in the Spring Conference in Los Angeles when the organization went so far as to reject a moderately worded resolution in favor of sexual freedom. At the same time it endorsed a double standard by affirming that women's bars have the right to discriminate by excluding men, but no men's bar should have the corresponding option.

4. 4

   obsoleteThe combination of humours making up one's physiological "temperament", being either hot or cold, and moist or dry.

   Ne ever is he wont on ought to feed / But todes and frogs, his pasture poysonous, / Which in his cold complexion doe breed / A filthy blood […]

   “Indeed, sir,” answered the lady, with some warmth, “I cannot think there is anything easier than to cheat an old woman with a profession of love, when her complexion is amorous; and, though she is my aunt, I must say there never was a more liquorish one than her ladyship. […]

5. 5

   An arrangement.

   1909, Ludwig Boltzmann, translated by Kim Sharp and Franz Matschinsky Second there is the level at which the energy or velocity components of each molecule are specified. He calls this a Komplexion, which we translate literally as complexion.

verb

1. 1

   To give a colour to.

   From the pale refinement of her genteel heroine to the sallow complexioning of poor white trash, Stowe colors her narrative with the hues of the body.

Forms

plural

complexions

past tense

complexioned

past participle

complexioned

present participle

complexioning

third person singular

complexions