Need a word

[Inkhorn]

I need a better way of saying "heart-shaped face." Someone mentioned that it was an overused turn of phrase; neither "cordate" or "cordiform" really work for me in terms of describing a person's facial features.

Any ideas?

 

[NotWise]

I need a better way of saying "heart-shaped face." Someone mentioned that it was an overused turn of phrase; neither "cordate" or "cordiform" really work for me in terms of describing a person's facial features.

Any ideas?

There might not be a single word you can drop in. One approach might be to describe the feature that makes it heart-shaped. Looking at photos heart-shaped faces, the main feature that creates the heart shape seems to be an angular jaw and narrow chin.

 

[KeithD]

There might not be a better/clearer word for "heart-shaped" face in conveying an image to the reader.

 

[DrHappy]

I didn't have a good picture in my head, but I found some links with some good descriptions and photos. Here are some quotes:

Heart Face Shape: This is when you have a wider forehead and narrower chin.

A person with a heart-shaped face will have a long and pointed jawline, with the chin being the smallest point of their face.

If your chin is pointed and your forehead is the widest part of your face, you have a heart-shaped face. Some people may have a widow’s peak at their hairline, but you can still have a heart-shaped face without one

Perhaps triangular, pointed jawline, or pointed chin would work?

 

[mynameisben]

cartioid

 

[ElectricBlue]

I need a better way of saying "heart-shaped face." Someone mentioned that it was an overused turn of phrase; neither "cordate" or "cordiform" really work for me in terms of describing a person's facial features.

Any ideas?

Ignore the someone. It's a perfectly okay description, and hardly overused. Which "expert" are you reacting to?

 

[Voboy]

Ignore the someone. It's a perfectly okay description, and hardly overused. Which "expert" are you reacting to?

No. Don’t ignore the someone. Challenge them to come up with something better.

They won’t.

 

[ElectricBlue]

No. Don’t ignore the someone. Challenge them to come up with something better.

They won’t.

Why would you waste your time worrying about another description, just to keep Mr Grumpy happy?

This is when my standard response kicks in. "It's my story, numb-nuts. If you don't like it, write your own."

 

[Bramblethorn]

cartioid

nb - although "cardioid" is based on "heart", it doesn't have quite the same shape as the traditional heart symbol . Both have the two lobes, but a cardioid has a very flat "chin" where a valentine-heart is pointy.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

cartioid

Trace it out (or check Wikipedia). 'Cartioid' = 'butt-faced'. Not something you would want to be labelled.

 

[mynameisben]

nb - although "cardioid" is based on "heart", it doesn't have quite the same shape as the traditional heart symbol . Both have the two lobes, but a cardioid has a very flat "chin" where a valentine-heart is pointy.

The OP didn't ask for a word that meant "quite the same shape as the traditional heart symbol." Read his post again, carefully, if you don't believe me.

What he did ask for is "Any ideas?" I gave an idea.

 

[vanmyers86]

I'm with the "keep it simple" crowd on this one. Cordate may be a good science-based adjective, but do you really want to send your readers scrambling for dictionary.com or some such when they're in the middle of your sexy story?

That said, if the female in question is a giant alien insect queen, definitely use "cordate!" Speaking as a sci-fi fan, I am much more willing to accept a descriptor like that in the context of that genre.

I'm very curious about your story now! Good luck with it.

 

[Handley_Page]

'Cardiac' any use ?

 

[ElectricBlue]

'Cardiac' any use ?

As a description of someone's face? I wouldn't have thought so.

 

[Jada59]

Trace it out (or check Wikipedia). 'Cartioid' = 'butt-faced'. Not something you would want to be labelled.

Hahaha. I've heard that expression used for someone with a cleft in their chin.

 

[Jada59]

I'm not really sure why you'd need to describe her face.

 

[SimonDoom]

I'm having trouble coming up with something that doesn't sound ridiculous.

"She had a face like an upside-down rain drop."

"Her face was a valentine."

No. Definitely not.

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

I'm having trouble coming up with something that doesn't sound ridiculous.

"Her face was a valentine."

No. Definitely not.

I think in the right context that’s a breathlessly sweet substitute! If “heart shaped” was sugar, this metaphor is Splenda.

 

[Bramblethorn]

The OP didn't ask for a word that meant "quite the same shape as the traditional heart symbol." Read his post again, carefully, if you don't believe me.

Nor did I assume that he did. Read my post again, carefully, if you don't believe me

 

[Inkhorn]

I'm not really sure why you'd need to describe her face.

Long story short? In the world of erotica, I'm tired of focusing just on the characters' sexual attributes when it comes to describing them. T&A is all very well and good, but what plays out across the face and in the eyes... THERE'S the emotional connection for me.

I'm having trouble coming up with something that doesn't sound ridiculous.

"She had a face like an upside-down rain drop."

"Her face was a valentine."

No. Definitely not.

The first made me laugh.

The second... I'm going to steal that for something else. "Her face was a valentine" sounds like a good opening line to a poem!

Her face was a valentine
lost in the mail
unread and forlorn
lost to uncaring time;
torn and frail,
no lover's eyes to adorn.

Gah... Needs work. But still a great line!

 

[UsuallyPresent]

If your protagonist is a math geek, ‘cardioid’

‘Her face started wide at the eyes, a widow’s peak and strong nose anchoring her features. Her soft skin led in and down over slim cheeks to a small jaw and pleasantly pointed little chin.’

 

[BelleCanzuto]

Long story short? In the world of erotica, I'm tired of focusing just on the characters' sexual attributes when it comes to describing them. T&A is all very well and good, but what plays out across the face and in the eyes... THERE'S the emotional connection for me.

I agree. But I think in doing that, you may need to live with descriptions that are longer than a couple of words, at least for variety's sake.

Heart shaped face == her wide eyes, button nose and narrow chin; or large eyes and cute pointy chin.

It just may not be possible find one word to capture what you want.

This isn't even getting into describing what the person is doing with her eyes, or the changes in expression.

 

[SimonDoom]

I think in the right context that’s a breathlessly sweet substitute! If “heart shaped” was sugar, this metaphor is Splenda.

I like that!

 

[Dirty_Lymerick]

"Her/his profile was reminiscent of a strawberry/apple/chariibean, lightly freckled with a delicately curved chin, sweet and ripe, begging for a taste." (use fruits or vegetables or other objects)

"His/her face was widest at their forehead and cheeks, having a strong/notable jawline, and tapering off into a defined chin." (This is actually the definition of 'heart-shaped face' sometimes you can just describe it rather than saying 'heart-shaped face' if it's preferable.)

 

[Bramblethorn]

If your protagonist is a math geek, ‘cardioid’

‘Her face started wide at the eyes, a widow’s peak and strong nose anchoring her features. Her soft skin led in and down over slim cheeks to a small jaw and pleasantly pointed little chin.’

As per my comment above, "cardioid" involves the lack of a pointed chin, so this isn't just a different choice of words - it's a very different visual.