lineament

/ˈlɪn.i.ə.mənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlɪn.i.ə.mənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈli-nē-ə-mənt/ (ame, mw)

lineament — 名詞

  • lineamentsingular
  • lineamentsplural

1. A typical quality or feature that helps to define the true character of a person

1.名詞C2
釋義

特質；特徵

定義人或事物本質的顯著特點

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.

例句

The librarian believed that kindness was the most important lineament of a person.

這位圖書館員認為，仁慈是一個人最重要的特質。

lineament of + person — defining abstract quality

One clear lineament of the Watanabe family is their deep respect for tradition.

渡邊家庭的一個明顯特徵，就是他們對傳統的深厚尊重。

lineament of + family/group — group-defining feature

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • 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

❌Patience is a lineament.
✅Patience is a lineament of a good teacher.
💡lineament almost always requires 'of' to specify what it belongs to.

2. A noticeable physical feature, outline, or contour of a person's face or body —

2.名詞C2
釋義

輪廓；面部特徵

臉部或身體的明顯外形或線條

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.

例句

Age had softened the sharp lineaments of Grandfather Emeka's face.

歲月磨去了艾梅卡祖父臉上的銳利輪廓。

possessive + lineaments + of + face — describing facial contours

The artist studied the lineaments of Rosa's face before beginning the portrait.

這位藝術家在開始畫肖像前，仔細研究了Rosa的臉部輪廓。

同義詞
  • feature

    general and more common; works for any body part

  • contour

    focuses on the curved outline rather than individual parts

  • outline

    emphasises the outer shape or silhouette

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.

常見錯誤

❌She has beautiful lineaments.
✅She has beautiful facial lineaments.
💡the word can sound vague without a context specifying 'of the face' or 'of the body'.