countenance — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Appearance, especially the features and expression of the face.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   How Cownterfet Cowntenaunce of the new get / With Crafty Conueyauance dothe smater and flater, / And Cloked Collucyoun is brought in to clater / With Courtely Abusyoun; […]

   But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

   It was as if the countenance were for a brief while allowed to wear the likeness of the peaceful and spiritual world whither the soul had departed.

   More examples (2)

   But Richmond, his grandfather's darling, after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance appeared to lose himself in his own reflections.

   With such powerful selling-points, why is it, as recent editorial comment and correspondence in this journal has revealed, that "Condor" has yet to bring a warm glow to the countenance of the L.M.R.'s accountants?

2. Favour; support; encouragement.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Thou hast made him[…]glad with thy countenance.

   This is the Magiſtrate's peculiar Province, to give Countenance to Piety and Virtue, and to rebuke Vice and Prophaneneſs; […]

   More examples (2)

   However, the poor old lady is in great distress; she and her grandaughter are coming up to London, and I wish to give them all possible countenance and assistance.

   All feared and obeyed him; to use his roads we must have his countenance.

3. Superficial appearance; show; pretense.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   The election being done, he made countenance of great discontent thereat.

4. Calm facial expression, composure, self-control.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Verb

1. To tolerate, support, sanction, patronise or approve of something.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   approvesanctionsupporttolerate

   Examples

   The cruel punishment was countenanced by the government, although it was not officially legal.

   I won't countenance other than compunctious semblances for such a grievous blunder.

   More examples (5)

   For the Defence was not actually countenanced by the Law, but only tolerated, and there were differences of opinion even on that point, whether the Law could be interpreted to admit such tolerances at all.

   But even though the Pleven Plan was the brainchild of a French prime minister, public debate had revealed the extent of French reluctance to countenance German rearmament under any conditions.

   [...] it is important to keep in mind that the medicine of the period countenanced a larger degreee [sic] of therapeutic modification than is allowed today.

   There are obvious reasons to cherish and respect imperial units of measure. […] Very few of us would countenance the removal of pints from pubs, for example.

   The new chancellor dismantled almost all of the platform that Truss’s leadership victory had been built on, including the majority of her tax cuts, and hinted a new windfall tax was in his sights – a move the PM had previously said she would not countenance.

Noun

1. the appearance conveyed by a person's face

   Synonyms

   visage

   Broader terms

   appearancevisual aspect

   Examples

   a pleasant countenance

   a stern visage

2. formal and explicit approval

   Synonyms

   sanctionendorsementindorsementwarrantimprimatur

   Broader terms

   approvalcommendation

   Examples

   a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement

3. the human face (‘kisser’ and ‘smiler’ and ‘mug’ are informal terms for ‘face’ and ‘phiz’ is British)

   Synonyms

   physiognomyphizvisagekissersmilermug

   Broader terms

   facehuman face

Verb

1. consent to, give permission; permit

   Synonyms

   permitallowlet

   Broader terms

   acceptconsentgo for

   Examples

   She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband

   I won't let the police search her basement

   More examples (1)

   I cannot allow you to see your exam