unifaciality
|u-ni-fa-cial-i-ty|
/ˌjuːnɪfeɪˈʃælɪti/
one-sidedness (having only one worked or faced side)
Etymology
'unifaciality' originates from Latin elements: the prefix 'uni-' from Latin 'unus' meaning 'one', combined with 'facialis' from Latin 'facies' meaning 'face', plus the suffix '-ity' from Latin '-itas' indicating 'state or quality'.
'unifaciality' developed in English by adding the nominalizing suffix '-ity' to the adjective 'unifacial' (itself formed from Latin-derived 'uni-' + 'facial'), producing the noun meaning 'the state of being unifacial.'
Initially, components referred literally to 'one' and 'face'; over time, the assembled English term came to denote the specific quality 'being one-faced' and acquired a technical archaeological sense of 'having only one worked surface.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or state of being unifacial; having or worked on only one face or surface (often used of stone tools or flakes in archaeology).
The lithic analyst recorded the unifaciality of many flakes in the assemblage, noting that they had been retouched on only one side.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/13 17:49