downface

English

Etymology

From down +‎ face.

Verb

downface (third-person singular simple present downfaces, present participle downfacing, simple past and past participle downfaced)

1. (transitive, archaic, rare) To persist in an assertion in the face of opposition.
   • 1897, Bram Stoker, “Mina Murray’s Journal”, in Dracula, New York, N.Y.: Modern Library, →OCLC, chapter VI, page 71:

     He will not admit anything, and downfaces everybody. If he can't out-argue them he bullies them, and then takes their silence for agreement with his views.

   • 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 12: The Cyclops]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC, part II [Odyssey], page 316:

     Didn't I tell you? As true as I'm drinking this porter if he was at his last gasp he'd try to downface you that dying was living.

   • 1960, Denis Johnston, The moon in the yellow river. The dreaming dust., page 87:

     Mr Kenmis, this lady at a very great risk to herself has had the courage to downface me in my office and show me that an injustice has been done.

   • 1998, R. V. Comerford, The Fenians in Context: Irish Politics and Society, 1848-82, page 152:

     The fact is that Gladstone exaggerated or minimised the role of fenianism depending on what line of opposing argument he was endeavouring to downface at any particular time.

2. (transitive) To disparage; to cause to lose face.
   • 1958, June E. Reed, Jest Olga, page 13:

     Shucks, I didn't want fer them furriners to downface me and, sartin sure, didn't want my kinspeople to be shamed afore them.

   • 1989, Colin Mackerras, Kevin B. Bucknall, Russell B. Trood, The Beijing tragedy: implications for China and Australia, page 32:

     For a student to downface and humiliate the Premier in a televised debate, to speak to him as a rather high-handed superior might a junior, as Wuerkaixi did to Li Peng on May 19, was very brave, but also unwise and flatly contradictory to Chinese culture.

   • 2001, David Marcus, Oughtobiography: leaves from the diary of a hyphenated Jew, page 77:

     My feelings had taken over, elation at having been able to downface the silly woman, but anger at her naked, arrogant anti-Semitism.

Noun

downface (plural downfaces)

1. (dogs) A profile characterized by a downward sloping muzzle.
   • 1976, John T. Marvin, The book of all terriers, page 120:

     However, good breeding of dogs with "fill" below the eyes and "downface" together with development of the prick ear, slowly restored the breed to favor.

   • 2003, AKC Gazette - Volume 120, page 78:

     In my opinion, the prevalence of the downface (or bucket head, as described by Australian breeder- judge Anne Sorraghan) in the breed is a tremendous threat to correct Airedale type.

   • 2013, T. W. Hogarth, The Bull-Terrier:

     Nevertheless, since the downface is so desirable, some little extra credit should be given when it appears to perfection, because it is also one of the harder points to obtain in breeding, and the dog with it should go over the dog that has not got it, even if the second dog is better in body; yet the line of demarcation has to be carefully drawn, for if undue weight be attached to the downface there is the danger that it will be the insertion of the thin end of the wedge, and bodies will become somewhat neglected.

2. The face that is oriented downward.
   • 2003, Catherine W. Bishir, Michael T. Southern, A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Piedmont, North Carolina:

     Windows in the downface of the hexagon provide light and a view along with privacy and shade in the east-facing building.

Adjective

downface (comparative more downface, superlative most downface)

1. Having or on a downward oriented face.
   • 1904, Cement and Engineering News - Volumes 16-19, page 171:

     The salient advantages of the downface method show that the pioneer features in block machines have been cleared away and that the device is able to mold cement into natural aspects and on structural and durable lines

   • 1909, The Cement Era - Volume 7, page 334:

     The only downface double pressure block ma- chine made, is the DeArmon-McKinney Double Pressure Machine

   • 1931, Harvey Whipple, Concrete - Volumes 38-39, page 49:

     The stripper mold box may be removed from the base and the downface block attachment can be added in a short time, it is stated.

Adverb

downface (comparative more downface, superlative most downface)

1. Further down the face.
   • 1952, Coal; the NCB Magazine - Volume 6, page 30:

     Also Mr. Warren was working downface. After making his last bar secure he shifted the overhanging coal, keeping himself and others safe.

   • 1974, Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations:

     Sampling stations have been designated intake, maingate, 100 feet downface, and tailgate (fig. 4).

   • 1984, San Diego Coastal State Park System General Plan:

     Ground water seepage along face and base of cliff below houses built along top with surface runoff scars visible downface of cliff.

2. Facing downwards.
   • 1988, Robert Cohen, Eight Plays For Theatre, page 67:

     ABRAHAM (turning ISAAC over facedown): Therefore downface thou shall be laid, Then when I strike thou shall not see.

Anagrams

• face down, face-down, facedown