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

/ ˈkaʊntɪnəns /

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 )

verb

1. to support or encourage; sanction

2. to tolerate; endure

Other Word Forms

• countenancer noun
• uncountenanced adjective
• undercountenance noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of countenance¹

C13: from Old French contenance mien, behaviour, from Latin continentia restraint, control; see _contain

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. out of countenance, visibly disconcerted; abashed.

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

Synonym Study

See face.

Example Sentences

The aim, colleges and advisers explain, is to probe how well students can countenance other viewpoints.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The wolf swept its glowing eyes ’round the room and took in each terrified countenance.

Read more on Literature

The goal is to immerse yourself as the sun rises, its immense fiery countenance parallel along the horizon to your shivering little head.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But this flexibility with the case’s facts is one of many acts of distancing that aid in countenancing the unthinkable.

Read more on Salon

"Perhaps some listeners will view it as too personal to countenance. Or perhaps fans who have grown up alongside Allen, now 40, will find something profoundly relatable in the story it has to tell."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• appearance 
• demeanor 
• mien 
• visage