Definition of countenance - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
permissionDated consent to or permit an actionDated
- The school does not countenance cheating during exams.
2.
supportDated give approval or support to somethingDated
- The board decided to countenance the new policy proposal.
Noun
1.
facial lookDated a person's face or facial expressionDated
- Her countenance showed sudden surprise.
2.
approvalDated support or approval for someone or somethingDated
- The project received the countenance of the board.
Expressions with countenance
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support or approve something or someone
The manager gave countenance to the new policy.
maintain a calm facial expression in difficult situations
She managed to keep countenance during the heated debate.
embarrassed or disconcerted
She was out of countenance when she forgot her lines on stage.
preserve a calm appearance hiding emotions
She managed to keep her countenance during the argument.
Origin of countenance
Latin, continentia (restraint)
Terms with countenance included in their meaning
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mood
with a dreary or gloomy countenance
Examples of countenance in a sentence
They would not countenance any form of discrimination. The manager will not countenance any form of cheating. We cannot countenance such rude behavior. His countenance remained calm during the interview. A worried countenance greeted us at the door. The initiative gained the countenance of the local community.
His proposal lacked the countenance of the committee.
View all translations of countenance
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:tolérer, visage, ...
- German:tolerieren, Gesicht, ...
- Italian:consentire, volto, ...
- Spanish:consentir, semblante, ...
- Portuguese:permitir, semblante, ...
- Chinese:允许, 面容, ...
- Japanese:許可する, 顔つき, ...
- Arabic:سمح ب, وَجْه, ...
- Hebrew:לְהַסְכִּים, אֲרֶשֶׁת פָּנִים, ...
- Russian:позволять, лицо, ...
- Ukrainian:дозволяти, обличчя, ...
- Hindi:अनुमति देना, चेहरा, ...
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