metopo-, metop-

(Greek: forehead)

metopic
1. Of or pertaining to the forehead or frontal bones.
2. Frontal; as, a metopic suture.
3. Of or relating to the forehead or the anterior portion of the cranium.
metopion
1. A point situated midway between the frontal eminences of the skull.
2. The craniometric point midway between the frontal eminences of the skull.
metopomancy
1. Divination by examining the lines, etc. of the face or forehead.
2. Divination and character analysis by interpreting facial lines and wrinkles; especially, of the forehead.

Derived from ancient Greek metopon, "the forehaead"; originally the space between the eyes.

metoposcopist
Someone who is versed in or who is a specialist in metoposcopy or the interpretation of facial wrinkles, especially those on the forehead, to determine the character of a person.
metoposcopy
1. The study of physiognomy; the art of discovering the character of persons by their features, or the lines of the face.
2. The interpretation of facial wrinkles, especially those on the forehead, to determine the character of a person.

It is also used as a type of divination and has been used in conjunction with astrology. This pseudoscience was invented by the great 16th century mathematician, physician, and astrologer, Girolamo Cardano (1501-1576). Legend has it that Cardano starved himself to death at the age of seventy-five rather than live and run the risk of falsifying his horoscope and thereby discredit his beloved astrology.

In all, Cardano worked up about 800 facial figures, each associated with astrological signs and qualities of temperament and character. He declared that one could tell by the lines on her face which woman is an adulteress and which has a hatred of any lewdness.

Long, straight furrows are supposed to indicate nobility of character. He claimed to be able to tell the generous from the trickster by their distinct lines and noted that having three curved furrows on the forehead proves one is a dissolute simpleton.

The strongest feature of metoposcopy is that it is a non-invasive method of quickly assessing character. Its weakest features are that it has no scientific merit, although it can be easily verified by confirmation bias, and it is very cumbersome to have over 800 character traits to consider.

—Excerpts from The Skeptic's Dictionary by Robert Todd Carroll.