discountenance
[dis-koun-tn-uh ns]
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.
Origin of discountenance
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for discountenance
discourage, deprecate, disapprove, disesteem, resist, disfavor, condemn, dispute, discomfit, discompose, chagrin, rattle, confuse, shame, abash, faze, humiliate, discommendExamples from the Web for discountenance
Historical Examples of discountenance
If unhappily thrown among them, discountenance them to the utmost.
Advice to a Young Man upon First Going to OxfordEdward Berens
As an Association they are pledged to discountenance just what I did.
Elizabeth Hobart at Exeter HallJean K. Baird
All citizens are urged to discountenance the building of fires.
Complete Story of the San Francisco HorrorRichard Linthicum
He would not allow stone-flinging, because it was a habit of his to discountenance it.
The Ordeal of Richard Feverel, CompleteGeorge Meredith
Let them in their several stations encourage virtue and discountenance vice in others.
discountenance
verb (tr)
noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper