Dictionary.com
definitions

discountenance

[ dis-koun-tn-uh ns ]
/ dɪsˈkaʊn tn əns /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR discountenance ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), dis·coun·te·nanced, dis·coun·te·nanc·ing.

to disconcert, embarrass, or abash: With his composure, he survived every attempt to discountenance him.
to show disapproval of: The teachers discountenanced smoking by the students.

noun

disapproval; disapprobation.

RELATED WORDS

discourage, deprecate, disapprove, disesteem, resist, disfavor, condemn, dispute, discomfit, discompose, chagrin, rattle, confuse, shame, abash, faze, humiliate, discommend

Nearby words

  1. discount house,
  2. discount market,
  3. discount rate,
  4. discount store,
  5. discounted cash flow,
  6. discounter,
  7. discourage,
  8. discouragement,
  9. discourse,
  10. discourse analysis

Origin of discountenance

First recorded in 1570–80; dis-1 + countenance
Related formsdis·coun·te·nanc·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for discountenance

British Dictionary definitions for discountenance

discountenance

/ (dɪsˈkaʊntɪnəns) /

verb (tr)

to make ashamed or confused
to disapprove of

noun

disapproval
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for discountenance

discountenance

v.

"put to shame," 1570s, from Middle French descontenancer (16c.) "to abash," from des- (see dis-) + contenancer (see countenance).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper