lineament
/ˈlɪn.i.ə.mənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlɪn.i.ə.mənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈli-nē-ə-mənt/ (ame, mw)
lineament — noun
- lineamentsingular
- lineamentsplural
1. A typical quality or feature that helps to define the true character of a person
A typical quality or feature that helps to define the true character of a person, place, or thing — for example, patience being a lineament of a good nurse, or blue skies being a lineament of the Mediterranean coast.
The librarian believed that kindness was the most important lineament of a person.
lineament of + person — defining abstract quality
One clear lineament of the Watanabe family is their deep respect for tradition.
lineament of + family/group — group-defining feature
Honesty and hard work are lineaments of a well-run business.
- trait
broader and more neutral; used in everyday speech
- characteristic
more common; can be positive or negative
- attribute
neutral; often used in professional or analytical contexts
- hallmark
emphasises that the feature is distinctive and identifying
- anomaly
something that does not fit the expected pattern
文法句型
lineament + of + noun phrase
plural: lineaments of [something]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural (lineaments) and followed by 'of' + a noun phrase naming the person or group being described. This sense is formal and literary; in everyday conversation, 'trait', 'quality', or 'characteristic' are more common.
常見錯誤
2. A noticeable physical feature, outline, or contour of a person's face or body —
A noticeable physical feature, outline, or contour of a person's face or body — for example, the strong curve of someone's jaw, the shape of their nose, or the line of their shoulders.
Age had softened the sharp lineaments of Grandfather Emeka's face.
possessive + lineaments + of + face — describing facial contours
The artist studied the lineaments of Rosa's face before beginning the portrait.
The old photograph showed the delicate lineaments of a young woman dressed in white.
文法句型
lineament + of + (face/body)
possessive + lineament
用法筆記
Almost always plural. Refers specifically to physical shape — the contours, outlines, and features visible on the face or body. Commonly paired with adjectives such as 'strong', 'sharp', 'delicate', 'fine', 'soft'. This sense is more common in literary and art criticism than in everyday speech.