in full aspect

English

Prepositional phrase

in full aspect

1. (heraldry) Affronté or facing forward.
   • 1828, William Berry, Encyclopaedia Heraldica: Or, Complete Dictionary of Heraldry, page 1:

     Mexico - Arms : ar. upon a rock, issuant from the sea in base, the nopal or tuna plant, thereon an eagle in full aspect, wings expanded, the head towards the dexter, holding in the beak a snake or serpent bowed embowed, all ppr […]

     Note: since 1916, the Mexican eagle has been in profile, but on the arms used in Berry's time it faced forward

   • 1874, John Woody Papworth, An Alphabetical Dictionary of Coats of Arms Belonging to Families in Great Britain and Ireland, page 312:

     Perch / Or an eagle in full aspect gu. standing on a perch issuing out of the sinister side arg.

Usage notes

• Sometimes alternatively defined as guardant (with the body in profile but the face towards the viewer), or applied to the opposite posture (the body facing the viewer, but the head turned to be in profile)

Further reading

• 1894, Henry Gough, James Parker, A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry, page 24:

  Aspect : a term expressive of the position of an animal, as in full aspect means full-faced, or affronty (fr. de front). In trian aspect means between passant and affronty.