[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

countenance \coun"tenance\ koun"t-enans, n. oe.
   contenance, countenaunce, demeanor, composure, f. contenance
   demeanor, fr. l. continentia continence, ll. also, demeanor,
   fr. l. continere to hold together, repress, contain. see
   contain, and cf. continence.
   1. appearance or expression of the face; look; aspect; mien.
      1913 webster

            so spake the son, and into terror changed
            his countenance.                      --milton.
      1913 webster

   2. the face; the features.
      1913 webster

            in countenance somewhat doth resemble you. --shak.
      1913 webster

   3. approving or encouraging aspect of face; hence, favor,
      good will, support; aid; encouragement.
      1913 webster

            thou hast made him . . . glad with thy countenance.
                                                  --ps. xxi. 6.
      1913 webster

            this is the magistrate's peculiar province, to give
            countenance to piety and virtue, and to rebuke vice.
                                                  --atterbury.
      1913 webster

   4. superficial appearance; show; pretense. obs.
      1913 webster

            the election being done, he made countenance of
            great discontent thereat.             --ascham.
      1913 webster

   in countenance, in an assured condition or aspect; free
      from shame or dismay. "it puts the learned in countenance,
      and gives them a place among the fashionable part of
      mankind." --addison.

   out of countenance, not bold or assured; confounded;
      abashed. "their best friends were out of countenance,
      because they found that the imputations . . . were well
      grounded." --clarendon.

   to keep the countenance, to preserve a composed or natural
      look, undisturbed by passion or emotion. --swift.
      1913 webster
see also:
contain continence in countenance out of countenance to keep the countenance 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

countenance \coun"tenance\ koun"t?-nans, v. t. imp.  p. p.
   countenanced -nanst; p. pr.  vb. n. countenancing.
   1. to encourage; to favor; to approve; to aid; to abet.
      1913 webster

            this conceit, though countenanced by learned men, is
            not made out either by experience or reason. --sir
                                                  t. browne.
      1913 webster

            error supports custom, custom countenances error.
                                                  --milton.
      1913 webster

   2. to make a show of; to pretend. obs.
      1913 webster

            which to these ladies love did countenance.
                                                  --spenser.
      1913 webster
see also:
countenanced countenancing 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

countenance
     n 1: the appearance conveyed by a person's face; "a pleasant
          countenance"; "a stern visage" syn: visage
     2: formal and explicit approval; "a democrat usually gets the
        union's endorsement" syn: sanction, endorsement, indorsement,
         warrant, imprimatur
     3: the human face `kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal
        terms for `face' and `phiz' is british syn: physiognomy,
         phiz, visage, kisser, smiler, mug
     v : consent to, give permission; "she permitted her son to visit
         her estranged husband"; "i won't let the police search
         her basement"; "i cannot allow you to see your exam"
         syn: permit, allow, let ant: forbid, forbid
see also:
visage sanction endorsement indorsement warrant imprimatur 
physiognomy phiz kisser smiler mug 
permit allow let forbid 

[4] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

175 moby thesaurus words for "countenance":
   buddha-like composure, ok, oriental calm, abet, abetment, accept,
   acceptance, adherence, admiration, admire, advocacy, advocate,
   aegis, aid and abet, air, applaud, approbation, approval, approve,
   approve of, ask for, auspices, authority, authorization, back,
   backing, bear, bear with, bearing, bless, blessing, blink at,
   brook, brow, calm disposition, calm of mind, calmness, care,
   carriage, cast, cast of countenance, certification, champion,
   championship, charity, clearance, color, comfort, commend,
   complexion, composure, condone, connive at, cool, coolheadedness,
   coolness, demeanor, dial, easy mind, embolden, empowerment,
   enabling, encourage, encouragement, endorse, endorsement, endure,
   enfranchisement, entitlement, esteem, face, facial appearance,
   facies, favor, favorable vote, feature, features, feed, fiat,
   foster, fosterage, garb, give encouragement, go for, goodwill,
   grin and abide, guidance, guise, have, hear of, hearten, hold with,
   icy calm, imperturbation, indisturbance, indulge, interest, invite,
   keep in countenance, kisser, let go by, let pass, lineaments,
   lines, looks, map, mental composure, mien, mug, mush, nod, nourish,
   nurture, obey, overlook, pan, patronage, peace of mind,
   peacefulness, philosophic composure, philosophicalness, philosophy,
   phiz, physiognomy, placidity, port, posture, presence, puss,
   put up with, quiet, quiet mind, quietude, ratification, respect,
   rise above, sanction, sangfroid, seal of approval, seconding,
   serenity, shine upon, shrug, shrug it off, smile upon,
   soothingness, sponsorship, stamp of approval, stance, stand for,
   stomach, submit to, subscribe, suffer, support, sympathy,
   take kindly to, think well of, tolerate, traits, tranquillity,
   turn, tutelage, unruffledness, uphold, view with favor, visage,
   voice, vote, warrant, warranty, wink at, yea, yea vote, yield to

Countenance >> C Words
Countenance, definition of term: Countenance
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