countenance

/'kauntinəns/

Thân thiện

Her countenance lit up with a warm, welcoming smile.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • The human face, especially as expressing a person's mood or character: "Countenance" refers to the face, particularly focusing on its appearance and the emotions or personality it reveals.
   • Formal approval or support: "Countenance" can mean the act of giving sanction, approval, or moral support to something.
   • Composure or calmness of facial expression: It can denote a state of self-control, where one's face does not show inner feelings.

2. Verb:

   • To permit, tolerate, or give approval to: As a verb, "to countenance" means to accept, allow, or support an action, idea, or behavior, often implying official or moral sanction.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Face/Expression):

  • His cheerful countenance brightened the room.
  • She maintained a stern countenance throughout the meeting.

• Noun (Approval):

  • The proposal will not proceed without the board's countenance.
  • He would never give his countenance to such a dishonest scheme.

• Verb (To permit/support):

  • I cannot countenance such rude behavior in my house.
  • The school does not countenance bullying of any kind.

Advanced Usage

• "To keep one's countenance": to maintain a calm or serious facial expression, especially when wanting to laugh or show emotion.

  • It was hard to keep his countenance during the silly speech.

• "To be out of countenance": to be disconcerted, embarrassed, or lose one's composure.

  • The harsh criticism put him quite out of countenance.

• "To give/lend countenance to": to provide support or credibility to something.

  • His presence lent countenance to the event.

Variants and Related Words

• Countenancer (n): (Rare) One who countenances or supports.
• Countenancing (n): The act of giving approval or sanction.

Synonyms

• Noun (Face): Visage, expression, mien, demeanor, look.
• Noun (Approval): Approval, sanction, endorsement, support, acquiescence.
• Verb: Permit, allow, sanction, endorse, tolerate, support.

Antonyms

• Noun (Approval): Disapproval, opposition, veto, prohibition.
• Verb: Forbid, prohibit, disapprove, oppose, discourage.

Related Phrases

• "A change of countenance": a shift in facial expression that reveals a change in emotion or thought.

  • A sudden change of countenance told me she had remembered something important.

• "To put someone out of countenance": to cause someone to become embarrassed or lose confidence.

  • Her direct question put the politician out of countenance.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British)
2. formal and explicit approval
   • a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement
3. the appearance conveyed by a person's face
   • a pleasant countenance
   • a stern visage

Verb

1. consent to, give permission
   • She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband
   • I won't let the police search her basement
   • I cannot allow you to see your exam

Từ đồng nghĩa

• physiognomy
• phiz
• visage
• kisser
• smiler
• mug
• sanction
• endorsement
• indorsement
• warrant
• imprimatur
• permit
• allow
• let