countenance
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,141 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 16,177 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.008% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- the appearance conveyed by a person's face also: visage a pleasant countenancea stern visage
- formal and explicit approval also: sanction, endorsement, indorsement, warrant, imprimatur a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement
- the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British) also: physiognomy, phiz, visage, kisser, smiler, mug
verb
- consent to, give permission also: permit, allow, let She permitted her son to visit her estranged husbandI won't let the police search her basement
countenance in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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Under his placid countenance revolved thoughts of the most burning covetousness.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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Scott's--particularly when he recites---is a very intelligent countenance, and this seal says nothing.
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement — No. 474 · Various · Chapter 1
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A pair of twinkling blue eyes and a humorously quirked mouth redeemed his countenance from commonplaceness.
The Riverman · Stewart Edward White · Chapter 1
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Again Mr. Jacks looked thoughtfully at the keen young face, and his countenance betrayed a troublous mood.
The Crown of Life · George Gissing · Chapter 1
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Down the platform was the new freight agent, a thickset, rubber-shod individual with a projecting lower jaw and a lowering countenance.
The City of Fire · Grace Livingston Hill · Chapter 1