Crossword clues for countenance
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Countenance \Coun"te*nance\ (koun"t[-e]*nans), n. [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.]
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Appearance or expression of the face; look; aspect; mien.
So spake the Son, and into terror changed His countenance.
--Milton. -
The face; the features.
In countenance somewhat doth resemble you.
--Shak. -
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. -
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.
Countenance \Coun"te*nance\ (koun"t?-nans), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countenanced (-nanst); p. pr. & vb. n. Countenancing.]
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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. -
To make a show of; to pretend. [Obs.]
Which to these ladies love did countenance.
--Spenser.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
late 15c., "to behave or act," from countenance (n.). Sense of "to favor, patronize" is from 1560s, from notion of "to look upon with sanction or smiles." Related: Countenanced; countenancing.
mid-13c., from Old French contenance "demeanor, bearing, conduct," from Latin continentia "restraint, abstemiousness, moderation," literally "way one contains oneself," from continentem, present participle of continere (see contain). Meaning evolving Middle English from "appearance" to "facial expression betraying a state of mind," to "face" itself (late 14c.).
Wiktionary
n. appearance, especially the features and expression of the face. vb. (context transitive English) To tolerate, support, sanction, patronise or approve of something.
WordNet
n. the appearance conveyed by a person's face; "a pleasant countenance"; "a stern visage" [syn: visage]
formal and explicit approval; "a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement" [syn: sanction, endorsement, indorsement, warrant, imprimatur]
the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British) [syn: physiognomy, phiz, visage, kisser, smiler, mug]
v. consent to, give permission; "She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband"; "I won't let the police search her basement"; "I cannot allow you to see your exam" [syn: permit, allow, let] [ant: forbid, forbid]
Wikipedia
Countenance is a synonym for face or facial expression, but may also refer to:
- Countenance divine, or divine countenance, a reference to the literal or metaphorical "face of God"
- Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran, called Operation Countenance, the 1941 joint invasion of Iran by the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union
Usage examples of "countenance".
However, the new resident commissioner at Passy, John Adams, required closer study, and in an effort to inform London, Alexander provided an especially perceptive appraisal: John Adams is a man of the shortest of what is called middle size in England, strong and tight-made, rather inclining to fat, of a complexion that bespeaks a warmer climate than Massachusetts is supposed, a countenance which bespeaks rather reflection than imagination.
His countenance, with radiant glory bright, Beneath his graceful locks far shines around, And the light vest with which his limbs are bound, Of woof aethereal delicately twined, Glows in the stream of the uplifting wind.
The affrighted countenances of some betrayed their inward remorse, while others advanced with confidence and alacrity to the altars of the gods.
There had been tasks for pretty, young cabin boys in the decadent years of the Fifties that the more Apollonian Zeds would never countenance.
Then Aramis, seizing the rope-ladder, instead of the terror which was expected to be displayed upon his countenance, the surprise of the sailors of the balancelle was great, when they saw him walk straight up to the commander, with a firm step, look at him earnestly, make a sign to him with his hand, a mysterious and unknown sign, at the sight of which the officer turned pale, trembled, and bowed his head.
Abu Batn, a sullen scowl still further darkening his swart countenance.
Associated with him in the battles of the Chickahominy, and to the end, was the able and resolute Longstreet--an officer of low and powerful stature, with a heavy, brown beard reaching to his breast, a manner marked by unalterable composure, and a countenance whose expression of phlegmatic tranquillity never varied in the hottest hours of battle.
And, from the color of their robes and what Kassim could see of their fierce countenances behind their even fiercer beards, they did not appear to be of a particularly friendly bent.
She gazed thoughtfully at the bedcover, her countenance unusually solemn.
For the first time, a hint of a satisfied smile crossed the berrylike countenance.
Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his countenance.
We sent Mithridates a stiff note refusing to countenance any pretender on the Bithynian throne, and ordering him to stay within his own borders.
A miser who has parted with a lucky lottery ticket for five shillings, and finds next day he has lost in the bargain five thousand pounds, could not show a blanker countenance than he did on beholding the figure of Mr.
I longed, too, to look upon a modest face, instead of being stared out of countenance by some Court dame, whose character was more flimsy than her boddice, and who never spoke a kind word for an absent friend.
Bruce Cook, a slim, personable, slightly balding grown-up version of the brainiest kid you ever knew in high school, provided a contrast to Allan Ropper, with his more athletic bearing, stoic square-jawed countenance, and full head of graying hair.