To countenance something means to tolerate or support it. As a noun, it refers to appearance, expression, face, composure, or approval.
To tolerate or support; also, appearance, face, composure, or approval.
| Front | countenance (verb) |
|---|---|
| Back | verb tr. To tolerate or support. noun 1. Appearance, especially the facial expression. 2. The face. 3. Composure. 4. Approval or support. [From Old French contenance (bearing), from Latin continere (to contain), from con- (with) + tenere (to hold). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ten- (to stretch), which also gave us tense, tenet, tendon, tent, tenor, tender, pretend, extend, tenure, tetanus, hypotenuse, pertinacious, and detente. Earliest documented use: around 1290.] "President Barack Obama said on Tuesday the United States 'will not countenance' Iran developing a nuclear weapon." - Obama Seeks to Calm 'Drumbeat of War' Over Iran; The Buenos Aires Herald (Argentina); Mar 6, 2012. "Thomas has long possessed a fierce countenance known to intimidate." - Matt Calkins; NBA Veteran Journeyman Kurt Thomas; Columbian (Vancouver, Washington); Dec 13, 2011. |
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