be in countenance

  • 21countenance — [ kaʊnt(ə)nəns, tɪn ] noun 1》 a person s face or facial expression. 2》 formal support or approval. verb admit as acceptable or possible. Phrases keep one s countenance maintain one s composure. out of countenance disconcerted or unpleasantly… …

    English new terms dictionary

  • 22countenance — 1. noun his strikingly handsome countenance Syn: face, features, physiognomy, profile; (facial) expression, look, appearance, aspect, mien; informal mug, puss; literary visage, lineaments 2. verb he would not countenance the use of force Syn:… …

    Thesaurus of popular words

  • 23countenance — [13] A person’s countenance has nothing to do with computation. Etymologically, it is how they ‘contain’ themselves, or conduct themselves, and the word itself is a parallel construction with continence. It was borrowed from Old French contenance …

    Word origins

  • 24countenance — I. noun Etymology: Middle English contenance, from Anglo French cuntenance, contenance, from Medieval Latin continentia, from Latin, restraint, from continent , continens, present participle of continēre to hold together more at contain Date:… …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 25countenance — 1. noun /ˈkaʊn.tɪ.nəns,ˈkaʊn.tən.əns/ a) Appearance, especially the features and expression of the face. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. b) appearance; e moustre par… …

    Wiktionary

  • 26countenance — verb Countenance is used with these nouns as the object: ↑possibility …

    Collocations dictionary

  • 27countenance — coun|te|nance1 [ kauntənəns ] noun count LITERARY your face or the expression on your face countenance coun|te|nance 2 [ kauntənəns ] verb transitive FORMAL to approve of something or allow something to happen …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 28countenance — coun•te•nance [[t]ˈkaʊn tn əns[/t]] n. v. nanced, nanc•ing 1) appearance, esp. the expression of the face: a sad countenance[/ex] 2) the face; visage 3) calm facial expression; composure 4) approval or favor 5) Obs. bearing; behavior 6) to permit …

    From formal English to slang

  • 29In countenance — 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 …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 30Out of countenance — 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 …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English