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.
Usage examples of "out of countenance".
I do not blame Lord Alma for his irritation, nor for being sadly out of countenance, but there is so little I can do to keep him busy.
And had he seemed, it was Cadfael who asked it, himself hardly knowing why, had he seemed as he always was, or in any way disturbed or alarmed or out of countenance and temper, when he came for his weapon and paid his and his friends score?
And had he seemed, it was Cadfael who asked it, himself hardly knowing why, had he seemed as he always was, or in any way disturbed or alarmed or out of countenance and temper, when he came for his weapon and paid his and his friend’.
Dishonesty will stare honesty out of countenance, any day in the week, if there is anything to be got by it.
So, staring one another out of countenance, we remained for perhaps the space of a minute.
The Nutmeg, dear colleague' - turning towards Martin, who looked somewhat out of countenance - 'was as sweet as her name implies, with never a cockroach, never a mouse, still less a rat, she having lain on the sea-bed for months together.
Egwene wondered how he managed to deal with the High Lords in all their arrogance if she and Elayne put him so out of countenance.