COUNTENANCE • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Countenance

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/kˈaʊntənəns/ Listen

noun

Countenance n.

1.

Appearance or expression of the face; look; aspect; mien. "So spake the Son, and into terror changed His countenance."

2.

The face; the features. "In countenance somewhat doth resemble you."

3.

Approving or encouraging aspect of face; hence, favor, good will, support; aid; encouragement. "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."

4.

Superficial appearance; show; pretense. (Obs.) "The election being done, he made countenance of great discontent thereat."

In countenance, in an assured condition or aspect; free from shame or dismay. "It puts the learned in countenance, and gives them a place among the fashionable part of mankind."

Out of countenance, not bold or assured; confounded; abashed. "Their best friends were out of countenance, because they found that the imputations... were well grounded."

To keep the countenance, to preserve a composed or natural look, undisturbed by passion or emotion.

verb

Countenance v. t. (past & past part. countenanced; pres. part. countenancing)

1.

To encourage; to favor; to approve; to aid; to abet. "This conceit, though countenanced by learned men, is not made out either by experience or reason." "Error supports custom, custom countenances error."

2.

To make a show of; to pretend. (Obs.) "Which to these ladies love did countenance."

See images of 'Countenance'

Etymology of 'Countenance'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Countenance" Quotes from Famous Books

... after this had been going on for some time, the doctor came in from a walk and found us together as usual. He had a rare blossom in his hand, and stepping to Mona's side he offered it to her with some gallantry. She accepted it with a beaming countenance which set my heart to thumping, and then she burst forth in a strain so sweet that it thrilled my whole being and roused in me again that jealous fear that Mona was learning to care more for the doctor than for me. But how shall I describe my emotions ...

— Daybreak: A Romance of an Old World • James Cowan

... we have," growled the Sergeant, whose countenance seemed to me then to bear a remarkable resemblance to that of a mastiff dog who was angry because his master spoke civilly to a stranger he wanted to hunt off the premises. "Do you take ...

— Charge! - A Story of Briton and Boer • George Manville Fenn

... on her, ready to scart or spit or run, as seemed wisest, and in a klink her woman's eye saw what mine had overlooked, that he was not even wearing a black jacket. Well, she told him what the slap was for, and his little countenance cleared at once. 'Oh' says he, 'that's all right, Tommy and me has arranged it,' and he pointed blithely to a corner of the yard where Tommy was hunkering by himself in Lewis's jacket, and wiping his mournful eyes with Lewis's hanky. I daresay you can jalouse the rest, but I kept ...

— Sentimental Tommy - The Story of His Boyhood • J. M. Barrie

... insists that motherhood, no less than any other human function, must undergo scientific study, must be voluntarily directed and controlled with intelligence and foresight. As long as we countenance what H. G. Wells has well termed "the monstrous absurdity of women discharging their supreme social function, bearing and rearing children, in their spare time, as it were, while they 'earn their living' ...

— The Pivot of Civilization • Margaret Sanger

... grinning ebon-faced giant he uttered some rapid words in his own language and told him my name, whereupon he snapped fingers in true native fashion, the negro showing an even set of white teeth as an expression of pleasure passed over his countenance. ...

— The Great White Queen - A Tale of Treasure and Treason • William Le Queux

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