Library / English Dictionary

COUNTENANCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The appearance conveyed by a person's face

Example:

a stern visage

Synonyms:

countenance; visage

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("countenance" is a kind of...):

appearance; visual aspect (outward or visible aspect of a person or thing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "countenance"):

aspect; expression; face; facial expression; look (the feelings expressed on a person's face)

poker face (a face without any interpretable expression (as that of a good poker player))

Sense 2

Meaning:

The human face ('kisser' and 'smiler' and 'mug' are informal terms for 'face' and 'phiz' is British)

Synonyms:

countenance; kisser; mug; phiz; physiognomy; smiler; visage

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("countenance" is a kind of...):

face; human face (the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear)

Domain region:

Britain; Great Britain; U.K.; UK; United Kingdom; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; 'Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom)

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "countenance"):

pudding-face; pudding face (a large fat human face)

Holonyms ("countenance" is a part of...):

human head (the head of a human being)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Formal and explicit approval

Example:

a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement

Synonyms:

countenance; endorsement; imprimatur; indorsement; sanction; warrant

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("countenance" is a kind of...):

approval; commendation (a message expressing a favorable opinion)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "countenance"):

O.K.; OK; okay; okeh; okey (an endorsement)

visa (an endorsement made in a passport that allows the bearer to enter the country issuing it)

nihil obstat (the phrase used by the official censor of the Roman Catholic Church to say that a publication has been examined and contains nothing offensive to the church)

Derivation:

countenance (consent to, give permission)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Consent to, give permission

Example:

I cannot allow you to see your exam

Synonyms:

allow; countenance; let; permit

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "countenance" is one way to...):

accept; consent; go for (give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to)

Verb group:

allow; grant (let have)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "countenance"):

admit; allow in; intromit; let in (allow to enter; grant entry to)

trust (allow without fear)

decriminalise; decriminalize; legalise; legalize; legitimate; legitimatise; legitimatize; legitimise; legitimize (make legal)

favor; favour; privilege (bestow a privilege upon)

admit; include; let in (allow participation in or the right to be part of; permit to exercise the rights, functions, and responsibilities of)

authorise; authorize; clear; pass (grant authorization or clearance for)

allow; permit; tolerate (allow the presence of or allow (an activity) without opposing or prohibiting)

give (allow to have or take)

furlough (grant a leave to)

abide; bear; brook; digest; endure; put up; stand; stick out; stomach; suffer; support; tolerate (put up with something or somebody unpleasant)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

countenance (formal and explicit approval)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Whether he was incensed or surprised, or what, it was not easy to tell: he could command his countenance thoroughly.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

His voice was as smooth and suave as his countenance, as he advanced with a plump little hand extended, murmuring his regret for having missed us at his first visit.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Emma soon recollected, and understood him; and while she joined in the laugh, it was evident from Jane's countenance that she too was really hearing him, though trying to seem deaf.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

At that moment she first perceived him, and her whole countenance glowing with sudden delight, she would have moved towards him instantly, had not her sister caught hold of her.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

The doctor changed countenance a little, but next moment he was master of himself.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

“Perchance, my fair lord, the poor folk are sweeter and of a better countenance in England,” laughed the Lady Rochefort.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His nose was turned upwards, which increased the good-humoured effect of his countenance at the expense of its dignity.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In my eyes it bore a livelier image of the spirit, it seemed more express and single, than the imperfect and divided countenance I had been hitherto accustomed to call mine.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The door jerked open, and the man flung past Martin, with an angry countenance and went down the corridor, muttering curses and clenching his fists.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)