discountenance

American  

[dis-koun-tn-uhns] / dɪsˈkaʊn tn əns /

verb (used with object)

discountenanced, discountenancing

1. to disconcert, embarrass, or abash.

   With his composure, he survived every attempt to discountenance him.

2. to show disapproval of.

   The teachers discountenanced smoking by the students.

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noun

1. disapproval; disapprobation.

discountenance British  

/ dɪsˈkaʊntɪnəns /

verb

1. to make ashamed or confused

2. to disapprove of

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noun

1. disapproval

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• discountenancer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of discountenance

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