countenance

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)Appearance, especially the features and expression of the face.

   “How Cownterfet Cowntenaunce of the new get / With Crafty Conueyauance dothe smater and flater, / And Cloked Collucyoun is brought in to clater / With Courtely Abusyoun; […]”

   “But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”

   “It was as if the countenance were for a brief while allowed to wear the likeness of the peaceful and spiritual world whither the soul had departed.”

   “But Richmond, his grandfather's darling, after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance appeared to lose himself in his own reflections.”

   “With such powerful selling-points, why is it, as recent editorial comment and correspondence in this journal has revealed, that "Condor" has yet to bring a warm glow to the countenance of the L.M.R.'s accountants?”

2. (countable, uncountable)Favour; support; encouragement.

   “Thou hast made him[…]glad with thy countenance.”

   “This is the Magiſtrate's peculiar Province, to give Countenance to Piety and Virtue, and to rebuke Vice and Prophaneneſs; […]”

   “However, the poor old lady is in great distress; she and her grandaughter are coming up to London, and I wish to give them all possible countenance and assistance.”

   “All feared and obeyed him; to use his roads we must have his countenance.”

3. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)Superficial appearance; show; pretense.

   “The election being done, he made countenance of great discontent thereat.”

4. (countable, uncountable)Calm facial expression, composure, self-control.

verb

1. (transitive)To tolerate, support, sanction, patronise or approve of something.

   “The cruel punishment was countenanced by the government, although it was not officially legal.”

   “I won't countenance other than compunctious semblances for such a grievous blunder.”

   “For the Defence was not actually countenanced by the Law, but only tolerated, and there were differences of opinion even on that point, whether the Law could be interpreted to admit such tolerances at all.”

   “But even though the Pleven Plan was the brainchild of a French prime minister, public debate had revealed the extent of French reluctance to countenance German rearmament under any conditions.”

   “There are obvious reasons to cherish and respect imperial units of measure. […] Very few of us would countenance the removal of pints from pubs, for example.”