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Webster 1913 Edition

Countenance

Coun′te-nance

(koun′tē̍-nans)
,
Noun.
[OE.
contenance
,
countenaunce
, demeanor, composure, F.
contenance
demeanor, fr. L.
continentia
continence, LL. also, demeanor, fr. L.
continere
to hold together, repress, contain. See
Contain
, and cf.
Continence
.]
1.
Appearance or expression of the face; look; aspect; mien.
So spake the Son, and into terror changed
His
countenance
.
Milton.
2.
The face; the features.
In
countenance
somewhat doth resemble you.
Shakespeare
3.
Approving or encouraging aspect of face; hence, favor, good will, support; aid; encouragement.
Thou hast made him . . . glad with thy
countenance
.
Ps. xxi. 6.
This is the magistrate’s peculiar province, to give
countenance
to piety and virtue, and to rebuke vice.
Atterbury.
4.
Superficial appearance; show; pretense.
[Obs.]
The election being done, he made
countenance
of great discontent thereat.
Ascham.
In countenance
,
in an assured condition or aspect; free from shame or dismay.
“It puts the learned in countenance, and gives them a place among the fashionable part of mankind.”
Addison.
–
Out of countenance
,
not bold or assured; confounded; abashed.
“Their best friends were out of countenance, because they found that the imputations . . . were well grounded.”
Clarendon.
–
To keep the countenance
,
to preserve a composed or natural look, undisturbed by passion or emotion.
Swift.

Coun′te-nance

(koun′t?-nans)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Countenanced
(-nanst)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Countenancing
.]
1.
To encourage; to favor; to approve; to aid; to abet.
This conceit, though
countenanced
by learned men, is not made out either by experience or reason.
Sir T. Browne.
Error supports custom, custom
countenances
error.
Milton.
2.
To make a show of; to pretend.
[Obs.]
Which to these ladies love did
countenance
.
Spenser.

Webster 1828 Edition

Countenance

COUNTENANCE

,
Noun.
[L., to hold.]
1.
Literally, the contents of a body; the outline and extent which constitutes the whole figure or external appearance. Appropriately, the human face; the whole form of the face, or system of features; visage.
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance. Proverbs 15.
Be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. Matthew 6.
2.
Air; look; aspect; appearance of the face; as in the phrase, to change or alter the countenance.
3.
The face or look of a beast; as a horse of a good countenance.
4.
Favor; good will; kindness.
Thou hast made him glad with thy countenance. Psalm 21.
Hence in scriptural language, the light of Gods countenance is his smiles or favorable regards, his favor and grace; and to hide his face or countenance is to manifest his displeasure, and withdraw his gracious aids. So the rebuke of his countenance indicates his anger and frowns. Psalm 80.
This application of face or countenance, which seems to be of high antiquity, proceeded probably from the practice of turning away the face to express anger, displeasure and refusal; a practice still common, but probably universal among rude nations. The opposite conduct would of course express favor. The grant of a petition is accompanied with a look directed to the petitioner; the refusal or denial, with an averted face. Hence,
5.
Support; aid; patronage; encouragement; favor in promoting and maintaining a person or cause.
It is the province of the magistrate, to give countenance to piety and virtue.
Let religion enjoy the countenance of the laws.
Give no countenance to violations of moral duty.
6.
Show; resemblance; superficial appearance.
The election being done, he made countenance of great discontent thereat.
7.
In law, credit or estimation.
To keep the countenance, is to preserve a calm, composed or natural look, unruffled by passion; to refrain from expressing laughter, joy, anger or other passion, by an unchanged countenance.
In countenance, in favor; in estimation.
If the profession of religion were in countenance among men of distinction, it would have a happy effect on society.
To keep in countenance, to give assurance or courage to; to support; to aid by favor; to prevent from shame or dismay.
To put in countenance, to give assurance; to encourage; or to bring into favor; to support.
Out of countenance, confounded; abashed; with the countenance cast down; not bold or assured.
To put out of countenance, to cause the countenance to fall; to abash; to intimidate; to disconcert.

COUNTENANCE

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To favor; to encourage by opinion or words.
The design was made known to the minister, but he said nothing to countenance it.
2.
To aid; to support; to encourage; to abet; to vindicate; by any means.
Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause. Exodus 23.
3.
To encourage; to appear in defense.
He countenanced the landing in his long boat.
4.
To make a show of.
Each to these ladies love did countenance.
5.
To keep an appearance.

Definition 2024

countenance

countenance

English

Alternative forms

Noun

countenance ‎(plural countenances)

  1. Appearance, especially the features and expression of the face.
    • 1611, Bible (KJV):, Genesis 4:5
      But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
    • 1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:
      But Richmond, his grandfather's darling, after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance appeared to lose himself in his own reflections.
  2. Favour; support; encouragement.
    • Bible, Psalms xxi. 6
      Thou hast made him […] glad with thy countenance.
    • Francis Atterbury (1663-1732)
      This is the magistrate's peculiar province, to give countenance to piety and virtue, and to rebuke vice.
  3. (obsolete) Superficial appearance; show; pretense.
    • Roger Ascham (1515-1568)
      The election being done, he made countenance of great discontent thereat.

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:countenance

Translations

Verb

countenance ‎(third-person singular simple present countenances, present participle countenancing, simple past and past participle countenanced)

  1. (transitive) To tolerate, support, sanction, patronise or approve of something.
    The cruel punishment was countenanced by the government, although it was not officially legal.
    • 1925, Franz Kafka, The Trial, Vintage Books (London), pg. 99:
      For the Defence was not actually countenanced by the Law, but only tolerated, and there were differences of opinion even on that point, whether the Law could be interpreted to admit such tolerances at all.

Synonyms

Translations

References

  • countenance in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • countenance in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Old French

Alternative forms

Noun

countenance f ‎(oblique plural countenances, nominative singular countenance, nominative plural countenances)

  1. (Anglo-Norman) appearance; countenance
    • e moustre par contenance q'il ad honte de ceo q'il ad fet
      And he showed by his appearance that he was ashamed of what he had done.

References

Etymology

Anglo-Norman, from Latin contineō ‎(“hold together”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈkaʊn.tɪ.nəns/, /ˈkaʊn.tən.əns/

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