4. Superficial appearance; show; pretense. [Obs.] The election being done, he made countenance of great discontent thereat. Ascham. 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.
COUNTENANCE Coun"te*nance (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. This conceit, though countenanced by learned men, is not made out either by experience or reason. Sir T. Browne. Error supports custom, custom countenances error. Milton.
2. To make a show of; to pretend. [Obs.] Which to these ladies love did countenance. Spenser.
COUNTENANCER
Coun"te*nan*cer (-nan-sr), n.
Defn: One who countenances, favors, or supports.
COUNTER
Coun"ter (koun"tr-).
Note: [See Counter, adv. ]
Defn: A prefix meaning contrary, opposite, in opposition; as, counteract, counterbalance, countercheck. See Counter, adv. & a.
COUNTER Count"er (koun"tr), n. Etym: [OE. countere, countour, a counter (in sense 1), OF. contere, conteor, fr. conter to count. See Count, v. t. ]