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Countenance: meaning, definitions and examples

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countenance

 

[ ˈkaʊnt(ə)nəns ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

facial expression

Countenance refers to a person's facial expression or the overall appearance of someone's face. It can convey emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, or surprise.

Synonyms

expression, facial expression, look

Examples of usage

  • Her countenance showed a mix of excitement and nervousness before the big presentation.
  • Despite his tough countenance, he was actually a very kind-hearted person.
Context #2 | Verb

support or approve

When used as a verb, countenance means to support, approve, or tolerate something. It implies giving permission or showing acceptance towards a particular action or idea.

Synonyms

approve, support, tolerate

Examples of usage

  • The company cannot countenance any form of discrimination in the workplace.
  • The teacher will not countenance cheating on the exam.

Translations

Translations of the word "countenance" in other languages:

🇵🇹 semblante

🇮🇳 चेहरा

🇩🇪 Miene

🇮🇩 wajah

🇺🇦 вираз обличчя

🇵🇱 wyraz twarzy

🇯🇵 顔つき

🇫🇷 visage

🇪🇸 rostro

🇹🇷 çehre

🇰🇷 표정

🇸🇦 وجه

🇨🇿 výraz obličeje

🇸🇰 výraz tváre

🇨🇳 面容

🇸🇮 obraz

🇮🇸 andlit

🇰🇿 бет-бейне

🇬🇪 სახე

🇦🇿 sima

🇲🇽 rostro

Etymology

The word 'countenance' originated from Middle English and Old French, ultimately derived from the Latin word 'contenere', meaning 'to hold together' or 'to contain'. Over time, it evolved to refer to the face or facial expression of a person. The concept of countenance has been an important aspect of human communication and expression throughout history.

See also: count, countable, counter, counting, countless, county, discount, encounter, recount, recounted, uncountable.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,547 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.