countenance

noun

the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British)

formal and explicit approval

the appearance conveyed by a person's face

verb

consent to, give permission

Roots

tenereten- · Latin · hold

Synonyms for countenance

visagen phizn physiognomyn facen looksv mienn complexionn sanctionn mugn brown

Synonyms & related words for countenance

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of countenance — including visage, phiz, physiognomy, face, looks, mien. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to countenance

Explore words related to countenance — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include countenancer, smiler, phizog, physiognomist, faceable, downlooked, frown, physiognomically. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for countenance

Common synonyms for countenance include visage, phiz, physiognomy, face, looks, mien, complexion, sanction — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does countenance come from?

The word countenance breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root ten-, from Latin tenere (“hold”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.