Definitions for COUNTENANCE
ˈkaʊn tn ənscoun·te·nance

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.0 / 3 votes

1. countenance, visagenoun

   the appearance conveyed by a person's face

   "a pleasant countenance"; "a stern visage"

2. sanction, countenance, endorsement, indorsement, warrant, imprimaturnoun

   formal and explicit approval

   "a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement"

3. countenance, physiognomy, phiz, visage, kisser, smiler, mugverb

   the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British)

4. permit, allow, let, countenanceverb

   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"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. countenancenoun

   Appearance, especially the features and expression of the face.

2. countenanceverb

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

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

3. Etymology: from contineo.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. COUNTENANCEnoun

   Etymology: contenance, French.

   1. The form of the face; the system of the features.

   So spake our fire, and by his count’nance seem’d
   Entering on studious thoughts abstruse. John Milton, Parad. Lost.

   To whom, with count’nance calm, and soul sedate,
   Thus Turnus. John Dryden, Æn.

   2. Air; look.

   Well, Suffolk, yet thou shalt not see me blush,
   Nor change my countenance for this arrest:
   A heart unspotted is not easily daunted. William Shakespeare, Henry VI.

   3. Calmness of look; composure of face.

   She smil’d severe; nor with a troubled look,
   Or trembling hand, the fun’ral present took;
   Ev’n kept her count’nance, when the lid remov’d,
   Disclos’d the heart unfortunately lov’d. John Dryden, Fables.

   The two maxims of any great man at court are, always to keep his countenance, and never to keep his word. Jonathan Swift.

   4. Confidence of mien; aspect of assurance.

   The night beginning to persuade some retiring place, the gentlewoman, even out of countenance before she began her speech, invited me to lodge that night with her father. Philip Sidney.

   We will not make your countenance to fall by the answer ye shall receive. Francis Bacon, New Atlantis.

   Their best friends were out of countenance, because they found that the imputations, which their enemies had laid upon them, were well grounded. Edward Hyde, b. viii.

   Your examples will meet it at every turn, and put it out of countenance in every place; even in private corners it will soon lose confidence. Thomas Sprat, Sermons.

   If the outward profession of religion and virtue were once in practice and countenance at court, a good treatment of the clergy would be the necessary consequence. Jonathan Swift.

   If those preachers would look about, they would find one part of their congregation out of countenance, and the other asleep. Jonathan Swift.

   It is a kind of ill manners to offer objections to a fine woman, and a man would be out of countenance that should gain the superiority in such a contest: a coquette logician may be rallied, but not contradicted. Joseph Addison, Freeholder, №. 32.

   It puts the learned in countenance, and gives them a place among the fashionable part of mankind. Joseph Addison, Freeholder.

   5. Affection or ill-will, as it appears upon the face.

   Yet the stout fairy, mongst the middest crowd,
   Thought all their glory vain in knightly view,
   And that great princess too, exceeding proud,
   That to strange knight no better countenance allow’d. Fa. Q.

   The king hath on him such a countenance,
   As he had lost some province, and a region
   Lov’d, as he loves himself. William Shakespeare, Winter’s Tale.

   6. Patronage; appearance of favour; appearance on any side; support.

   The church of Christ, which held that profession which had not the publick allowance and countenance of authority, could not so long use the exercise of Christian religion but in private. Richard Hooker, b. v. sect. 11.

   His majesty maintained an army here, to give strength and countenance to the civil magistrate. John Davies, on Ireland.

   Now then, we’ll use
   His countenance for the battle; which being done,
   Let her who would be rid of him, devise
   His speedy taking off. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

   This is the magistrate’s peculiar province, to give countenance to piety and virtue, and to rebuke vice and profaneness. Francis Atterbury.

   7. Superficial appearance; show; resemblance.

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

   Oh, you blessed ministers above!
   Keep me in patience, and with ripen’d time
   Unfold the evil, which is here wrapt up
   In countenance. William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure.

   Bianca’s love
   Made me exchange my state with Tranio,
   While he did bear my countenance in the town. William Shakespeare.

2. To Countenanceverb

   Etymology: from the noun.

   1. To support; to patronise; to vindicate.

   Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause. Exod.

   This conceit, though countenanced by learned men, is not made out either by experience or reason. Thomas Browne, Vulg. Err.

   This national fault of being so very talkative, looks natural and graceful in one that has grey hairs to countenance it. Addis.

   2. To make a shew of.

   Each to these ladies love did countenance,
   And to his mistress each himself strove to advance. Fai. Qu.

   3. To act suitably to any thing; to keep up any appearance.

   Malcolm! Banquo!
   As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprights,
   To countenance this horrour. William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

   4. To encourage; to appear in defence.

   At the first descent on shore he was not immured with a wooden vessel, but he did countenance the landing in his longboat. Henry Wotton.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. countenance

   Countenance generally refers to a person's facial expression that shows their mood, emotion or character. It can also refer to giving approval, support or encouragement to something.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Countenanceverb

   to encourage; to favor; to approve; to aid; to abet

2. Countenanceverb

   to make a show of; to pretend

3. Etymology: [OE. contenance, countenaunce, demeanor, composure, F. contenance demeanor, fr. L. continentia continence, LL. also, demeanor, fr. L. continere to hold together, repress, contain. See Contain, and cf. Continence.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Countenance

   kown′ten-ans, n. the face: the expression of the face: appearance.—v.t. to favour or approve.—n. Coun′tenancer.—Change countenance, to change the expression of the face; His countenance fell, he became dejected or angry; In countenance, unabashed—opp. to Out of countenance. [O. Fr. contenance—L. continentia, restraint, demeanour—L. continēre, to contain.]

Matched Categories

1. • Appearance

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce COUNTENANCE?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say COUNTENANCE in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of COUNTENANCE in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of COUNTENANCE in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of COUNTENANCE in a Sentence

1. William Hazlitt:

   First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible professions or studied actions. A man's look is the work of years it is stamped on his countenance by the events of his whole life, nay, more, by the hand of nature, and it is not to be got rid of easily.

2. Jonathan Swift:

   The two maxims of any great man at court are, always to keep his countenance and never to keep his work.

3. Scipione Alberti:

   Secret thoughts and open countenance will go safely over the whole world.

4. Psalm 42, Book II, Holy Bible:

   Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

5. Aristotle:

   The ridiculous is produced by any defect that is unattended by pain, or fatal consequences; thus, an ugly and deformed countenance does not fail to cause laughter, if it is not occasioned by pain.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=COUNTENANCE
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Countenance
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=COUNTENANCE
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/COUNTENANCE
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=COUNTENANCE
7. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=COUNTENANCE