Defining physiognomy

I'm reading a letter that was written in 1865, and I came across the word "phisiognomy."

"I have heard of men's having a phisiognomy that would hang them."

Wikipedia defines

:

Physiognomy (from the Gk. physis meaning "nature" and gnomon meaning "judge" or "interpreter") is the assessment of a person's character or personality from his or her outer appearance, especially theface. The term can also refer to the general appearance of a person, object, or terrain, without reference to its implied characteristics, as in the physiognomy of a plant community.

Wikipedia also offers the accompanied illustration.