Word
countenance
Phoneticscoun·te·nance, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkaʊntənəns/
UK/kˈaʊntənəns/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the face or the expression on someone's face. It is an old-fashioned word that you might see in books or formal speeches.
n. the face or the facial expression of a person. Often used in literary or formal contexts to describe a person's appearance or emotional state.
Examples
“He had a stern countenance that made everyone feel nervous.”
“The judge's countenance remained neutral throughout the entire trial, showing no sign of favor or anger.”
“The portrait captures the subject's countenance with such precision that even the subtle tension in his jawline is visible to the viewer.”
Examples
simple
“He had a stern countenance that made everyone feel nervous.”
contextual
“The judge's countenance remained neutral throughout the entire trial, showing no sign of favor or anger.”
complex
“The portrait captures the subject's countenance with such precision that even the subtle tension in his jawline is visible to the viewer.”
Real-World Examples
“Lamour had also made clear that he would countenance losing his job as a consequence of opposing the plan, which was shelved hours after he spoke out on 31 July.” “I think doctors often aren’t adept at countenancing things that cannot be measured with a lab test.” Etymology
From Middle English contenaunce, countenaunce, from Anglo-Norman countenance and Old French contenance, from the present participle of contenir, or from Late Latin continentia, and therefore a doublet of continence.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/countenance