Janus-faced

Janus-faced
adjective
1. having or concerned with polarities or contrasts (Freq. 1)
-

a Janus-faced view of history

-

a Janus-faced policy

• Similar to: ↑bipolar
2. marked by deliberate deceptiveness especially by pretending one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another
-

"she was a deceitful scheming little thing"- Israel Zangwill

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a double-dealing double agent

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"a double-faced infernal traitor and schemer"- W.M.Thackeray

• Syn:
• Similar to: ↑dishonest, ↑dishonorable
• Derivationally related forms: ↑duplicity (for: ↑duplicitous), ↑double-dealing (for: ↑double-dealing), ↑deceitfulness (for: ↑deceitful)
3. having two faces—one looking to the future and one to the past
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Janus the two-faced god

• Syn: ↑two-faced
• Similar to: ↑faced

* * *

\\|jānə|sfāst\ adjective or janus
Usage: usually capitalized J
Etymology: after Janus, the god or numen
1. : looking in opposite directions

a Janus-faced look at the past and future of our national economy

2. : having two contrasting aspects

a Janus-faced alternation of melodic variations in major and minor throughout the movement

* * *

/jay"neuhs fayst'/, adj.
1. having two faces, one looking forward, one looking backward, as the Roman deity Janus.
2. having two contrasting aspects, as the alternation of mood in a capricious person.
4. aware of or concerned with polarities; seeing different and contrasting aspects: a Janus-faced view of history.
5. having or containing contrasting characteristics: a Janus-faced policy.
[1675-85]

* * *

Jānˈus-faced adjective
1. Two-faced, facing in two directions
2. Hypocritical, deceitful
• • •
Main Entry: ↑Janus

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Janus-faced — Ja nus faced , a. Double faced; deceitful. [1913 Webster] {Janus faced lock}, one having duplicate faces so as to go upon a right or a left hand door, the key entering on either side indifferently. Knight. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Janus-faced — [jā′nəsfāst΄] adj. two faced; deceiving …   English World dictionary

  • Janus-faced — /jay neuhs fayst /, adj. 1. having two faces, one looking forward, one looking backward, as the Roman deity Janus. 2. having two contrasting aspects, as the alternation of mood in a capricious person. 3. two faced; deceitful. 4. aware of or… …   Universalium

  • Janus-faced lock — Janus faced Ja nus faced , a. Double faced; deceitful. [1913 Webster] {Janus faced lock}, one having duplicate faces so as to go upon a right or a left hand door, the key entering on either side indifferently. Knight. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Janus-faced molecule — A Janus molecule (or Janus faced molecule) is a molecule which can represent both beneficial and toxic effects. An example of this is nitrous oxide [Vittorio Calabrese, Cesare Mancuso, Menotti Calvani, Enrico Rizzarelli, D. Allan Butterfield Anna …   Wikipedia

  • Janus-faced — (Roman Mythology) having two faces as does Janus (ancient god with two faces who was the guardian of doorways and beginnings); deceitful, two faced …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Janus-faced — /ˈdʒeɪnəs feɪst/ (say jaynuhs fayst) adjective two faced; deceitful. {referring to Janus} …  

  • Janus-faced — Ja′nus faced adj. two faced; deceitful • Etymology: 1675–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • Janus-faced — adjective Date: 1682 having two contrasting aspects; especially duplicitous, two faced …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • janus-faced — An argument looking in both directions at the same time, e.g., urging jurors not to be swayed by sympathy, but adding that any sympathy should be in favor of the arguing counsel s client. Davis v. Franson, 141 Cal.App.2d 263, 296 P.2d 600, 606 …   Black's law dictionary

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