• n. 面容，表情；支持
• vt. 支持，贊同

來自contain, 包含，控制，對內心情感的控制，表情。后詞義進一步褒義化，贊賞，支持。

countenance

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.).

1. America won't countenance any such circumvention of the sanctions.

美國不會贊成任何規避制裁的行為。

來自柯林斯例句

2. Jake would not countenance Janis's marrying while still a student.

杰克不會同意賈尼斯還在上學就結婚。

來自柯林斯例句

3. He met each inquiry with an impassive countenance.

他面無表情地接受每一個盤問。

來自柯林斯例句

4. The committee refused to countenance his proposals.

委員會拒不同意他的方案。

來自《權威詞典》

5. At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.

他一看見這張照片臉色就變了.

來自《簡明英漢詞典》