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Glite Dictionary
lantern-jawed

lantern-jawed

1 8.9
A person with a long thin face and a jaw that sticks out
  • adjective
  • /ˈlæn.tɚn.dʒɔd/
  • Archaic
translation icon : de mandíbula prominente
  • Her long, lantern-jawed face was deadly serious now; her usual cocky grin had vanished.
  • lantern-jawed face
  • a lantern-jawed man

Examples

  • A lantern-jawed male.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Despite his lantern-jawed appearance, he had a gentle demeanor that surprised everyone.

  • The lantern-jawed founder of fascism took advantage of the political unrest in Italy after World War I.

    Death of a Nation (2018)

  • As Sarei Eimerl points out, "They are too tall, too short, knobby, lantern-jawed, or just generally ugly."

    Academic text (1995)

  • Her head was shaven completely bald and glistened with perspiration under harsh white recording lights that gave her lantern-jawed face a cadaverous look.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • The model had a striking, lantern-jawed face that suited his roles in dramatic films.

  • In the photograph, he appeared with his lantern-jawed features accentuated by the harsh lighting.

Synonyms

long-faced
vslantern-jawed
1 6.2

Having a long, narrow face

has a very prominent jaw that makes the face look gaunt and angular
long-jawed
vslantern-jawed
  • Specialized
7.9

Having a longer mouth or face than similar animals

has a thin, narrow face and a pronounced jaw giving a gaunt look

How Gaunt

gaunt
9 7.3
lantern-jawed
  • Archaic
1 8.9
long-faced
1 6.2

Surface Forms

lantern-jawed positive

Morphology

lantern-jawed = lantern + jaw (semi-transparent) = lantern + jaw + ed

The components 'lantern' and 'jaw' are recognizable, but the compound is metaphorical and the adjectival meaning is not a literal, fully predictable combination for all learners.

Etymology

Lantern-jawed joins lantern and jaw, so picture a face lit from below by a lantern that makes the jaw look long and thin; a helpful way to remember it is to imagine that hard light making the cheeks hollow and the jaw stand out, which is why lantern-jawed means a face that looks 'long and thin' with a strong, noticeable jaw.