Thesaurus: countenance

Related headwords

Definitions

1. v. t. To encourage; to favor; to approve; to aid; to abet.
2. v. t. To make a show of; to pretend.
3. n. the appearance conveyed by a person's face
4. n. formal and explicit approval
5. n. the human face (‘kisser’ and ‘smiler’ and ‘mug’ are informal terms for ‘face’ and ‘phiz’ is British)
6. v. consent to, give permission; permit
7. 1. Appearance or expression of the face; look; aspect; mien. So spake the Son, and into terror changed His countenance. Milton. 2. The face; the features. In countenance somewhat doth resemble you. Shak. 3. 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. 4. 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. 1. 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. 2. To make a show of; to pretend. [Obs.] Which to these ladies love did countenance. Spenser.
8. v:40/n:60 n. the appearance conveyed by a person's face n. the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British)