countenance: [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 (a derivative of the verb contenir ‘contain’), which meant ‘behaviour’, ‘demeanour’, or ‘calmness’ as well as ‘contents’, and originally had this somewhat abstract sense in English.
It was not until the 14th century that the meaning began to develop through ‘facial expression’ to the now familiar ‘face’ (traces of the original sense survive in such expressions as ‘put someone out of countenance’, meaning to make them lose their cool). => contain, continence
countenance (v.)
late 15c., "to behave or act," from countenance (n.). Sense of "to favor, patronize" is from 1560s, from notion of "to look upon with sanction or smiles." Related: Countenanced; countenancing.
countenance (n.)
mid-13c., from Old French contenance "demeanor, bearing, conduct," from Latin continentia "restraint, abstemiousness, moderation," literally "way one contains oneself," from continentem, present participle of continere (see contain). Meaning evolving Middle English from "appearance" to "facial expression betraying a state of mind," to "face" itself (late 14c.).
中文解释
1. contain => countenance: 包含的表情，面容、表情写在、包含在脸上。
实用例句
1. America won't countenance any such circumvention of the sanctions.
美国不会赞成任何规避制裁的行为。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Jake would not countenance Janis's marrying while still a student.
杰克不会同意贾尼斯还在上学就结婚。
来自柯林斯例句
3. He met each inquiry with an impassive countenance.
他面无表情地接受每一个盘问。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The committee refused to countenance his proposals.
委员会拒不同意他的方案。
来自《权威词典》
5. At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.
