countenance
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coun·te·nance
(koun′tə-nəns)n.
1. Appearance, especially the expression of the face: The question left him with a puzzled countenance.
2. The face or facial features.
3.
a. A look or expression indicative of encouragement or of moral support.
b. Support or approval.
4. Obsolete Bearing; demeanor.
tr.v. coun·te·nanced, coun·te·nanc·ing, coun·te·nanc·es
To give sanction or support to; tolerate or approve: The college administration will not countenance cheating.
[Middle English contenaunce, from Old French, from contenir, to behave; see contain.]
coun′te·nanc·er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
countenance
(ˈkaʊntɪnəns)n
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)
vb (tr)
4. to support or encourage; sanction
5. to tolerate; endure
[C13: from Old French contenance mien, behaviour, from Latin continentia restraint, control; see contain]
ˈcountenancer n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
coun•te•nance
(ˈkaʊn tn əns)n., v. -nanced, -nanc•ing. n.
1. appearance, esp. the expression of the face: a sad countenance.
2. the face; visage.
3. calm facial expression; composure.
4. approval or favor.
5. Obs. bearing; behavior.
v.t. 6. to permit or tolerate.
7. to approve or encourage.
[1250–1300; Middle English cuntenaunce behavior, bearing, self-control < Anglo-French cuntena(u)nce, Old French contenance < Latin continentia continence]
coun′te•nanc`er, n.
syn: See face.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
countenance
Past participle: countenanced
Gerund: countenancing
| Imperative |
|---|
| countenance |
| countenance |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  countenance - the appearance conveyed by a person's face; "a pleasant countenance"; "a stern visage"appearance, visual aspect - outward or visible aspect of a person or thing expression, look, face, facial expression, aspect - the feelings expressed on a person's face; "a sad expression"; "a look of triumph"; "an angry face" poker face - a face without any interpretable expression (as that of a good poker player) |
| 2. | countenance - formal and explicit approval; "a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement" commendation, approval - a message expressing a favorable opinion; "words of approval seldom passed his lips" visa - an endorsement made in a passport that allows the bearer to enter the country issuing it nihil obstat - the phrase used by the official censor of the Roman Catholic Church to say that a publication has been examined and contains nothing offensive to the church | |
| 3. |  countenance - the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British)human head - the head of a human being face, human face - the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear; "he washed his face"; "I wish I had seen the look on his face when he got the news" pudding face, pudding-face - a large fat human face colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech Britain, Great Britain, U.K., UK, United Kingdom, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; `Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom | |
| Verb | 1. |  countenance - consent to, give permission; "She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband"; "I won't let the police search her basement"; "I cannot allow you to see your exam"brook, endure, tolerate, stomach, abide, bear, digest, stick out, suffer, put up, stand, support - put up with something or somebody unpleasant; "I cannot bear his constant criticism"; "The new secretary had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks"; "he learned to tolerate the heat"; "She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage" furlough - grant a leave to; "The prisoner was furloughed for the weekend to visit her children" give - allow to have or take; "I give you two minutes to respond" consent, go for, accept - give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to; "I cannot accept your invitation"; "I go for this resolution" permit, tolerate, allow - allow the presence of or allow (an activity) without opposing or prohibiting; "We don't allow dogs here"; "Children are not permitted beyond this point"; "We cannot tolerate smoking in the hospital" authorize, authorise, clear, pass - grant authorization or clearance for; "Clear the manuscript for publication"; "The rock star never authorized this slanderous biography" let in, admit, include - allow participation in or the right to be part of; permit to exercise the rights, functions, and responsibilities of; "admit someone to the profession"; "She was admitted to the New Jersey Bar" decriminalise, decriminalize, legalise, legalize, legitimate, legitimatise, legitimatize, legitimise, legitimize - make legal; "Marijuana should be legalized" trust - allow without fear |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
countenance
verb
noun
1. (Literary) face, features, expression, look, appearance, aspect, visage, mien, physiognomy He met each inquiry with an impassive countenance.
2. support, assistance, backing, aid, favour, sanction, approval, endorsement Those who remained could hope for no countenance or advancement.
3. composure, cool (slang), dignity, poise, coolness, aplomb, calmness, equanimity, self-assurance, sang-froid, self-possession, imperturbability I kept my countenance and remained self-possessed.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
countenance
noun2. A disposition of the facial features that conveys meaning, feeling, or mood:
2. To be favorably disposed toward:
Informal: go for.
Idiom: take kindly to.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
مَلامِح وجْـهيُشجِّـع، يُأيِّـد
schvalovattrpětvýraz
ansigtansigtsudtrykbilligeminetolerere
andlitláta viîgangast
veidasveido išraiška
atbalstītizskatssejaveicināt
desteklemekteşvik etmekyüz
countenance
[ˈkaʊntɪnəns] (frm)A. N
1. (liter) (= face) → semblante m, rostro m
to keep one's countenance → contener la risa, no perder la serenidad
to lose countenance → desconcertarse
to be out of countenance → estar desconcertado
to put sb out of countenance → desconcertar a algn
to keep one's countenance → contener la risa, no perder la serenidad
to lose countenance → desconcertarse
to be out of countenance → estar desconcertado
to put sb out of countenance → desconcertar a algn
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
countenance
n
(old, form: = face) → Angesicht nt (old, Eccl), → Antlitz nt (old); (= expression) → Gesichtsausdruck m; to keep one’s countenance (fig) → die Fassung or Haltung bewahren; to lose countenance (fig) → das Gesicht verlieren; to put somebody out of countenance → jdn aus der Fassung bringen
vt behaviour → gutheißen; plan, suggestion also, person → unterstützen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
countenance
[ˈkaʊntɪnəns] (frm)Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
countenance
(ˈkauntinəns) noun (expression on) the face.
verb to encourage, support or accept. We can't possibly countenance the spending of so much money.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.