unifaced
|u-ni-faced|
/ˈjuːnɪfeɪst/
having one face / one-sided
Etymology
'unifaced' originates from Latin elements: the prefix 'uni-' from Latin 'ūnus' meaning 'one', and 'face' from Latin 'facies' meaning 'face'.
'uni-' + 'face' combined in post‑classical/Modern English to form compounds such as 'unifaced' (analogous to 'unifacial'); related adjectives like 'unifacial' existed earlier in technical contexts.
Initially it denoted 'having a single face or surface' and has retained that basic meaning, extended metaphorically to mean 'one-sided' or 'single-aspect'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having a single face or side; worked, formed, or presented on one side only (often used for tools or objects that are flaked or finished on one face).
The archaeologists classified the flake as unifaced because only one side showed deliberate retouching.
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Adjective 2
figuratively: showing or exhibiting only one aspect or side; not multifaceted.
His argument was unifaced, focusing only on short-term gains.
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Last updated: 2025/10/08 14:36