Now arch. or dial. Also 6 vyse-, vice-, visnamy, visenomy, visnomye, -nomie, 9 viznomy (dial. visomy). [var. of ME. fisnomye: see PHYSIOGNOMY.]
1. = PHYSIOGNOMY 3.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas. (1555), R iij b. For you are euill fauoured, and also vgly, I am the worse, to se your visnamy.
1556. Olde, Antichrist, 70. The … Prophet Daniel, and the Apostle Paule: which paynt out Antichristes visnomye unto us wyth suche lyght and euidence.
1591. Spenser, Muiopot., 311. Each of the Gods by his like visnomie Eathe to be knowen.
1605. Chapman, All Fools, II. i. 159. Then with a bell regard advant mine eye With boldnes on her verie visnomie.
1640. Brome, Sparagus Gard., III. v. You seldom see a Poet look out at a good Visnomy.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xvi. The loon has woodie written on his very visnomy. Ibid. (1821), Kenilw., x. My own ugly viznomy.
1822. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. Distant Correspondents. Who would consult his sweet visnomy, if the polished surface were two or three minutes … in giving back its copy.
1838. J. P. Kennedy, Rob of Bowl, ii. A thick gray moustache gave a martial and veteran air to his visnomy.
† 2. = PHYSIOGNOMY 2. Obs.–1
c. 1540. Copland, Hye Way to Spyttel Ho., 452. For all the seuen scyences surely he can; And is sure in physyk and palmestry, In augury, sothsayeng and vysenamy.
