The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.
Wiktionary
vb. (en-past of: countenance)
Usage examples of "countenanced".
The most extravagant legends, as they conduced to the honor of the church, were applauded by the credulous multitude, countenanced by the power of the clergy, and attested by the suspicious evidence of ecclesiastical history.
Bwana never countenanced such acts in his country and his word was law among those who hunted within a radius of many miles of his estate.
The provincial governors, whose zeal was less prevalent than their avarice, had countenanced the practice of selling certificates, (or libels, as they were called,) which attested, that the persons therein mentioned had complied with the laws, and sacrificed to the Roman deities.
A dexterous informer, countenanced by several of the principal ministers, procured from him some recommendatory letters.
This dangerous hypothesis was countenanced by the two Gregories, of Nyssa and Nazianzen, by Cyril of Alexandria, John of Damascus, &c.
As he was sensible that the Christians gloried in the name of their Redeemer, he countenanced, and perhaps enjoined, the use of the less honorable appellation of Galilaeans.
And this innovation, so agreeable to his active mind, was countenanced by the patience of the times, and his long absence from the seat of government.
The superiority of form to matter was introduced to ascertain the right of property: and the equality of crimes is countenanced by an opinion of Trebatius, ^57 that he who touches the ear, touches the whole body.
The opinion which imputes to the prince all the calamities of his times may be countenanced by the historian as a serious truth or a salutary prejudice.
A laudable regard for the honor of the first proselyte has countenanced the belief, the hope, the wish, that the Ebionites, or at least the Nazarenes, were distinguished only by their obstinate perseverance in the practice of the Mosaic rites.
The incredulity of the former was countenanced by the visible circumstances of his birth, the legal marriage of the reputed parents, Joseph and Mary, and his lineal claim to the kingdom of David and the inheritance of Judah.
Perhaps the monks and people of Constantinople ^106 were favorable to the Lateran creed, which is indeed the least reasonable of the two: and the suspicion is countenanced by the unnatural moderation of the Greek clergy, who appear in this quarrel to be conscious of their weakness.
The decline and fall of the caliphs countenanced this fearful opinion.
A dexterous informer, countenanced by several of the principal ministers, procured from him some recommendatory letters.
As he was sensible that the Christians gloried in the name of their Redeemer, he countenanced, and perhaps enjoined, the use of the less honorable appellation of Galilaeans.