definitions

discountenance

[ dis-koun-tn-uh ns ]
/ dɪsˈkaʊn tn əns /
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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

discount house, discount market, discount rate, discount store, discounted cash flow, discountenance, discounter, discourage, discouragement, discourse, discourse analysis

Origin of discountenance

First recorded in 1570–80; dis-1 + countenance

Related forms

dis·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