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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame ==Etymology== [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Mid...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Complexion2.jpg|right|frame]]
==Etymology==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin complexion-, complexio, from [[Latin]], combination, from complecti
*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Century 14th century]
==Definitions==
*1 : the combination of the hot, cold, moist, and dry [[qualities]] held in medieval [[physiology]] to determine the quality of a [[body]]
*2 a : an [[individual]] complex of ways of [[thinking]] or [[feeling]]
:b : a [[complex]] of [[attitudes]] and inclinations
*3 : the [[hue]] or [[appearance]] of the skin and especially of the [[face]] <a dark complexion>
*4 : overall aspect or [[character]] <by changing the complexion of the legislative branch — Trevor Armbrister>
==Description==
'''Complexion''' refers to the [[natural]] [[color]], [[texture]], and [[appearance]] of the skin, especially that of the [[face]]. The word is derived from the Late Latin complexi, which initially referred in general terms to a combination of [[things]], and later in physiological terms, to the [[balance]] of humors.
Complexion, in its [[original]] sense, [[engaged]] the [[attention]] of philosophers and musical theorists from ancient times right through to the Renaissance and beyond, in [[relation]] to the most favourable balancing of the '[[qualities]]' or elements in order to [[heal]] and invigorate the [[soul]] : from Pythagoras and the musical theorist Aristoxenus, through Plato's dialogue Phaedo, Aristotle, Saint Augustine in his thesis on music, and Aquinas; and in the Florentine Renaissance, Marsilio Ficino in his work on the immortality of the soul, the Theologia Platonica.
Thus there are many [[references]] which filter through into [[Shakespeare]]'s plays and sonnets derived from this [[body]] of [[thought]]; particularly in the description of important characters, and to the [[power]] of [[music]] above all to 'charm the savage breast', adjust the elements, and restore the [[equilibrium]] and [[balance]], the '[[harmony]]' of the [[soul]]: his characters call for music and are spellbound or restored by it, and in elevated [[mood]], may hear it in the air, or sense its immortal harmonies everywhere.
Many surnames arose out of the [[existence]] of a complexion whose particularities may have differed from that of the village or town’s [[population]], and thus attracted enough notice to warrant a nickname. The Irish surname Rogan (from Ruadhán) referred to a [[person]] with red hair, or a ruddy complexion. The Scottish surname Bain (from bàn) referred to a fair-haired person, while Dunn (from donn) implies brown/dark hair, and Duff (from dubh) implies black hair. The [[English]] surname Brown, an extremely common surname in the English-speaking world, was originally applied to anyone with a slightly darker complexion, in the same [[manner]] that the surname White was applied to anyone with a particularly light complexion. The surname Gough is derived from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_language Welsh] goch or coch, meaning "red" or "ruddy." [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_II_of_England King William II] of England was called William Rufus ("the Red") because of his ruddy complexion. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludovico_il_Moro Ludovico II] Moro ("the Moor") was called as such because of his swarthy complexion.
[[Category: Sociology]]
[[Category: Languages and Literature]]
==Etymology==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin complexion-, complexio, from [[Latin]], combination, from complecti
*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Century 14th century]
==Definitions==
*1 : the combination of the hot, cold, moist, and dry [[qualities]] held in medieval [[physiology]] to determine the quality of a [[body]]
*2 a : an [[individual]] complex of ways of [[thinking]] or [[feeling]]
:b : a [[complex]] of [[attitudes]] and inclinations
*3 : the [[hue]] or [[appearance]] of the skin and especially of the [[face]] <a dark complexion>
*4 : overall aspect or [[character]] <by changing the complexion of the legislative branch — Trevor Armbrister>
==Description==
'''Complexion''' refers to the [[natural]] [[color]], [[texture]], and [[appearance]] of the skin, especially that of the [[face]]. The word is derived from the Late Latin complexi, which initially referred in general terms to a combination of [[things]], and later in physiological terms, to the [[balance]] of humors.
Complexion, in its [[original]] sense, [[engaged]] the [[attention]] of philosophers and musical theorists from ancient times right through to the Renaissance and beyond, in [[relation]] to the most favourable balancing of the '[[qualities]]' or elements in order to [[heal]] and invigorate the [[soul]] : from Pythagoras and the musical theorist Aristoxenus, through Plato's dialogue Phaedo, Aristotle, Saint Augustine in his thesis on music, and Aquinas; and in the Florentine Renaissance, Marsilio Ficino in his work on the immortality of the soul, the Theologia Platonica.
Thus there are many [[references]] which filter through into [[Shakespeare]]'s plays and sonnets derived from this [[body]] of [[thought]]; particularly in the description of important characters, and to the [[power]] of [[music]] above all to 'charm the savage breast', adjust the elements, and restore the [[equilibrium]] and [[balance]], the '[[harmony]]' of the [[soul]]: his characters call for music and are spellbound or restored by it, and in elevated [[mood]], may hear it in the air, or sense its immortal harmonies everywhere.
Many surnames arose out of the [[existence]] of a complexion whose particularities may have differed from that of the village or town’s [[population]], and thus attracted enough notice to warrant a nickname. The Irish surname Rogan (from Ruadhán) referred to a [[person]] with red hair, or a ruddy complexion. The Scottish surname Bain (from bàn) referred to a fair-haired person, while Dunn (from donn) implies brown/dark hair, and Duff (from dubh) implies black hair. The [[English]] surname Brown, an extremely common surname in the English-speaking world, was originally applied to anyone with a slightly darker complexion, in the same [[manner]] that the surname White was applied to anyone with a particularly light complexion. The surname Gough is derived from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_language Welsh] goch or coch, meaning "red" or "ruddy." [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_II_of_England King William II] of England was called William Rufus ("the Red") because of his ruddy complexion. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludovico_il_Moro Ludovico II] Moro ("the Moor") was called as such because of his swarthy complexion.
[[Category: Sociology]]
[[Category: Languages and Literature]]