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View synonyms for

countenance

[koun-tn-uhns]

noun

  1. appearance, especially the look or expression of the face.

    a sad countenance.

  2. the face; visage.

  3. calm facial expression; composure.

  4. approval or favor; encouragement; moral support.

  5. Obsolete.bearing; behavior.



verb (used with object)

countenanced, countenancing 
  1. to permit or tolerate.

    You should not have countenanced his rudeness.

  2. to approve, support, or encourage.

countenance

/ ˈ첹ʊԳɪəԲ /

noun

  1. the face, esp when considered as expressing a person's character or mood

    a pleasant countenance

  2. support or encouragement; sanction

  3. composure; self-control (esp in the phrases keep or lose one's countenance; out of countenance )

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to support or encourage; sanction

  2. to tolerate; endure

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • countenancer noun
  • uncountenanced adjective
  • undercountenance noun
  • ˈdzܲԳٱԲԳ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of countenance1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English cuntenaunce “behavior, bearing, self-control,” from Anglo-French cuntena(u)nce, Old French contenance, from Medieval Latin “way of living, demeanor,” from Latin continentia “self-control, restraint”; continence
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Word History and Origins

Origin of countenance1

C13: from Old French contenance mien, behaviour, from Latin continentia restraint, control; see contain
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. out of countenance, visibly disconcerted; abashed.

    He was somewhat out of countenance at the prospect of an apology.

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Synonym Study

See face.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Dan Bifano is in a hurry, but it’s in his nature to be gracious, so he keeps his countenance serene even though gnarly traffic on the Pacific Coast Highway has made his visitors very late.

From

It meant that conservatives would never again countenance a lifetime Supreme Court appointment to any ideological wildcard.

From

“As we just saw, even conservative judges are unlikely to countenance such efforts that fly in the face of basic election law principles,” Stephanopoulos said.

From

If Holmes’ constant appeal is an easily solvable case, then countenancing the possibility that there may be much more to his life than what Doyle shared isn’t impossible either.

From

But I was grateful to experience the text through a different voice and countenance.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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