facing
/ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
noun
Origin
Old French
face — face, countenance
Overview
Meaning Now
- A layer of material applied to the outer surface of a building or object for protection or decoration.
- The act or state of being oriented toward a specific direction or thing.
- In clothing, a piece of fabric sewn to the edge of a garment, often turned to the inside.
Literal older meaning
The act of turning one's face toward something.
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
facynge
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The term evolved from the literal concept of a 'face' (the front of a head) to a technical term in architecture and tailoring, denoting the outer or decorative covering of an item.
Evolution
- Latin
facies
“appearance, form, face”
- Old French
face
“face, appearance”
- Middle English
facen
“to confront or to put a surface on”
- English
facing
“outer layer or orientation”
Connections
Word parts
face
root
to turn toward or surface
ing
suffix
action or material process
Related across languages
French
face
face
Italian
faccia
face
Explore next
Related to facing
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.