Countenance sb.

Forms: 3–5 continaunce, -ance, 3–6 contenaunce, -ance, -once, -anse, -ans(s, -aunse, 4 contien-, cunten-, cuntin-, kuntenaunce, (Sc. cuntyr-, counternans), 4–5 contynaunce, -ans(e, 4–6 countenaunce, (-tin-, -tyn-, -teyn-, -ance, -ans, -aunse, 5 cown-), 4– countenance. [ME. con-, cun-, countena(u)nce, a. OF. con-, cuntenance (11th c. Chans. Roland) manner of holding oneself, bearing, behavior, aspect, ad. L. continēntia (see CONTINENCE), used in med.L. in sense of ‘habitus, moris et gestus conformatio’ (Du Cange): cf. CONTAIN v. The extension of sense from ‘mien, aspect’ to ‘face’ appears to be Eng.: cf. F. use of mine.]

  I.  † 1. Bearing, demeanor, comportment; behavior, conduct; sometimes spec. behavior of two persons towards each other. Obs.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., 113/245. Al-to nobleie of þe worlde his continaunce he brouȝte.

1340.  Ayenb., 259. Of uayre contenonce to-uore alle men.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 4900. With clipping & kessing and contenaunce hende.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, IX. 273. Fell neuir men so foull myschans Eftir so sturdy cuntyrnans.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VII. xxi. They had goodely langage & louely countenaunce to gyder … Fair syster I haue wel aspyed your countenaunce betwixe you and this knyght.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 235. Whan we be dissolute in herte, and lyght in countenaunce.

1678.  A. Lovell, Fontaine’s Duties Cav., 120. The General by his Scouts shall inform himself of the Enemies Countenance.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. v. The Spaniard governor ordered two muskets to be fired … that by their countenance he might know what to expect…. This stratagem took; for … they started up … and … ran screaming away.

  † b.  To make (a) countenance (see also 2 d, 3, 7): to assume or have a certain demeanor or attitude; to comport oneself. Obs.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 5747. Wan þe Amerel haþ iherd hym telle, Contenance made he fers & felle.

1485.  Caxton, Paris & V., 53. For the good countenances that he made he was moche wel beloued.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. lxxvii. 98. To regarde … her great beauty, and the gracyous wordes and countenaunce that she made. Ibid. (a. 1533), Huon, cxxix. 473. The admyral … wold not issue out … tyll he sawe what countenaunce the chrysten men wolde make.

  † 2.  Appearance, aspect, look (obs. exc. as transf. from 4); also, a show or semblance of anything.

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 792. Ful clene watz þe countenaunce of her cler yȝen.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. Prol. 24. In cuntinaunce of cloþinge queinteliche degyset.

1483.  Caxton, Cato, C iv b. The draper helde the countenaunce of a drunken man.

1565.  Jewel, Repl. Harding (1611), 134. To amaze the ignorant Reader with a countenance of great learning.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., V. i. 41. I beleeue a meanes to cosen some bodie in this Citie vnder my countenance.

1639.  Howell, in Four C. Eng. Lett., 77. The countenance of the weather invited me.

1695.  Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, I. (1723), 20. These Authors did not espouse this Opinion … without some countenance of Probability.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. ii. (1840), 35. I … knew the very countenance of the place.

1837–9.  Hallam, Hist. Lit. (1847), I. i. § 30. 25. The countenance of nature.

  † b.  Mere appearance or show; feigned or assumed appearance, pretence. Obs.

c. 1398.  Chaucer, Fortune, 34. I haue thee taught diuisioun bitwene Frend of effect and frend of countenaunce.

1494.  Fabyan, Chron., VI. clxxvi. 174. The sayde Godfrey, to dyssayue y^e Frenshemen, shewed outwarde countenaunce to be a Cristen man.

1579.  Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 449/1. Let vs learn … to absteine from al talke, and all countenances.

1613–8.  Daniel, Coll. Hist. Eng. (1626), 191. They passed the day in Countenances, and nothing was done.

1727.  Swift, To Yng. Lady. Their whole demeanor, before they got a husband, was all but a countenance and constraint upon their nature.

  † c.  For (a) countenance: for a show or pretence, for appearance sake. Obs.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 711. And for a countenaunce in his hond bar An holow stikke.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 255. I hadde in custom to come to scole late, Nat for to lerne but for a contenaunce.

1548.  Hall, Chron., 151. Although she [the Queen] joyned her husbande with hir in name for a countenaunce, yet she did all, she saied all, and she bare the whole swynge.

1614.  Bp. Hall, Medit. & Vows, iii. § 21. God hath many retainers that weare his Livery, for a countenance.

1692.  R. L’Estrange, Josephus, Antiq., II. vi. (1733), 36. Joseph … for a Countenance … charged them as Spies.

1878.  Simpson, Sch. Shaks., I. 34. That Florida was for countenance, to hide the of authorized buccaneering.

  † d.  To make (a) countenance: to make a show (real or feigned) of any action, feeling or intention. Also to set a countenance. Obs.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 482. Bot quhat pite that euir he had, Na contenance thar-off he maid.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VIII. xxxii. He … made countenaunce as though he wold haue stryken hym.

1548.  Hall, Chron., 197 b. He made a countenance to assayle his adversarie.

1570.  Ascham, Scholem., II. (Arb.), 134. But, the election being done, he made countinance of great discontentation thereat.

1600.  Holland, Livy, XXI. lxiii. 429. He set a countenance … as though hee would take a journey like a private person.

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, III. 102. These Nations joyned togethers, and … made countenance of warre.

1726–7.  Swift, Gulliver, I. ii. I made a countenance as if I would eat him alive.

  † e.  Ship of countenance: ?

1570.  J. Campion, in Arb., Garner, I. 55. Touching the ship that must go, she must observe this order. She must be a ship of countenance. She must not touch in any part of Spain.

1727.  A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. xviii. 215. He went to Surat Road, in the Royal James and Mary, with three or four other Ships of Countenance, to try if he could bully the Governor, and frighten the Merchants.

  † 3.  A sign, gesture. To make a countenance: to make a sign, intimate by sign or gesture. Obs.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 1401. Priueli … sche praide william þanne to seche softily to hire chaumber … & he bi quinte contenance to come he granted, For he ne durst openly.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 71. Vp roos tho oon … and with his hand made contenaunce that men sholde holden hem stille.

1461–83.  Househ. Ord., 375. If hee doe call them or doe make any countenance to them.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 375. The king made them a countenaunce to come nere.

  4.  The look or expression of a person’s face.

  (In early use often not easily distinguished from 1, 2, and in later use difficult to separate from 5.)

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 183. Þo Normans were sorie, of contenance gan blaken.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 394. Þan him ansuerede Olyuer wyþ sterne contynaunce.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 2098. He shewed ay countenance gladd.

1548.  Hall, Chron., 183. Imploring mercy … both with holding up his handes, and making dolorous countenance.

1553.  Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 22. They haue greye or blewe eyes, and are of cruell countenaunce.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, I. iv. 29. Kent. You haue that in your countenance, which I would faine call Master. Lear. What’s that? Kent. Authority.

1770.  Junius Lett., xxxvi. 179. Their countenances speak a different language.

1858.  trans. Bengel’s Gnomon, I. 313. A man’s countenance varies, his face is always the same.

1875.  Manning, Mission H. Ghost, ii. 51. God made your features, but you made your countenance.

  b.  To change one’s countenance: to alter one’s facial expression (or † as in 1, one’s demeanor) as the result of feeling or emotion. To keep one’s countenance: to preserve composure, refrain from expressing emotion; now esp. to refrain from laughing or smiling. So (here, or under 6) his countenance fell: i.e., he showed disappointment or dejection.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, VII. 127. Thai changit contenanss and late.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, IV. xiv. She kepte her countenaunce and maade no semblaunt of sorowe.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 386. To this the king with chaunged countenaunce aunswered.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 834. Sitting like an image without mouing, and with a great state and maiesty keeping his countenance, dained not to giue them one of his lookes.

1611.  Bible, Gen. iv. 5. Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

1728.  Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, 212. It was as much as I could do to keep my Countenance at the Figure he made.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 373. Courtiers and envoys kept their countenances as well as they could while the renegade protested that … his conscience would not let him rest [etc.].

1878.  Morley, Diderot, I. 133. When he was told that the work must positively be brought to an end, his countenance fell.

1891.  N. Gould, Double Event, 17. Captain Drayton changed countenance.

  5.  The face, visage.

1393.  Gower, Conf., II. 372. My contenaunce is on the boke, But toward her is all my loke.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 484. He kest vp his contenance & knyȝtly he lokes.

1535.  Coverdale, Job xxxiv. 29. Yf he hyde awaye his countenaunce.

1611.  Bible, 1 Sam. xvii. 42. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw Dauid, hee disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a faire countenance.

1724.  Swift, Drapier’s Lett., vii. That vile representation of the royal countenance.

1835.  Lytton, Rienzi, I. i. His countenance was handsome.

1871.  Browning, Hervé Riel, viii. How hope succeeds despair on each Captain’s countenance!

  6.  ‘Calmness of look, composure of face’; ‘confidence of mien’ (J.); esp. in phr. To lose countenance, with a good countenance.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3368 (Cott.). And þof sco scamful was, i-wiss, Sco tint na contenance wit þis.

c. 1314.  Guy Warw. (A.), 5740. Now is Gii of Warwike a couward … Lorn he haþ contenaunce.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 2518. All the buernes aboute abasshet þer with … þere countenaunse failed.

1632.  J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 21. The Admirall (framing the best countenance he could) departed.

1770.  Langhorne, Plutarch (1879), I. 527/2. The Persians stood and received them with a good countenance.

  b.  Out of countenance: disconcerted, abashed. To put out of countenance: to disconcert. Also fig.

15[?].  Ballad on Money, in Halliwell, Nugæ Poeticæ, 49.

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 611. I will not be put out of countenance.

1621.  Bp. Hall, Heaven upon Earth, § 4. Firme and obdurate fore-heads, whose resolution can laugh their sinnes out of countenance.

1668.  Pepys, Diary, IV. 11. The table spread … for a noble breakfast … that put me out of countenance, so much and so good.

1701.  Grew, Cosmol. Sacra, IV. vii. 232 (R.). When Cain … was out of countenance.

1778.  Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, Sept. You did put her a little out of countenance.

1857.  Hughes, Tom Brown, II. vi. You’ll stare my mother out of countenance.

  c.  To keep (a person) in countenance: to keep him from being abashed or disconcerted; now often involving the notion of encouragement by show of favor or support (cf. 8); to COUNTENANCE. So to put in countenance.

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 623. And now forward, for we haue put thee in countenance.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. xvii. It does not only keep impertinent Fools in countenance, but encourages them to be very troublesome to wise Men.

1716.  Addison, Free-Holder, No. 35, ¶ 5 (1751), 200 (J.). It puts the Learned in Countenance.

1766.  Goldsm., Vic. W., xxii. To shut out the censuring world, and keep each other in countenance.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 504. Cornbury was soon kept in countenance by a crowd of deserters.

  II.  † 7. Demeanor or manner towards others as expressing good or ill will; show of feeling or manifestation of regard towards another. Obs.

  [Immediately related to 1.]

c. 1369.  Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 1022. She wolde not fonde To holde no wight in balaunce, By half word ne by countenaunce.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, IX. 12. The kyng gud counternans thaim maid.

a. 1553.  Udall, Royster D., III. iii. (Arb.), 49. Lo where she commeth, some countenaunce to hir make.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. iv. 15. The stout Faery … Thought … that great Princesse too exceeding prowd, That to strange knight no better countenance allowd.

1632.  J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 138. Entertaining him with the best countenance that could be.

  8.  ‘Patronage; appearance of favour; appearance on any side’ (J.); moral support.

1576.  Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 27. Your authoritie and countenaunce giveth mee … great incouragement.

1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. ii. 33. Vnder whose countenance we steale.

1608.  D. T[uvill], Ess. Pol. & Mor., 10. That his deedes may be alwaies readie to giue authoritie, and countenance to his words.

1782.  Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., I. I. 143. A doctrine which has no countenance in reason or revelation.

1841.  Macaulay, W. Hastings, Ess. (1854), 595. To lend no countenance to such adulation.

1864.  Tennyson, Aylmer’s Field, 307. Else I withdraw favour and countenance From you and yours for ever.

  † b.  transf. A support. Obs.

1565–73.  Cooper, Thesaurus, Agger … a bulwarke; a countenance to a fortresse or campe: a rampier.

1691.  Norris, Pract. Disc., 102. One is a Countenance and Incouragement to another.

  III.  † 9. Estimation; credit or repute in the world.

1576.  Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 148. If I were in as great countenaunce with my sisters sonne. Ibid., 431. You are one whome before all other this Universitie hath in more countenaunce and estimation.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 50. Philautus … both for his owne countenaunce, and the great countenaunce which his father had while he liued, crept into credit with Don Ferardo.

1709.  Swift, Advancem. Relig., Misc. (1742), 121 (J.). If the outward profession of Religion and Virtue were once in practice and countenance at Court.

  † 10.  The estate or state that one maintains or keeps up; position, standing, dignity. Obs.

  (It was often used by commentators as a rendering of contenementum in Magna Carta, though with doubtful propriety: see CONTENEMENT.)

c. 1477.  in Eng. Gilds, 304. Beinge men of good welthe and countenance.

1523.  Fitzherb., Surv., 21. Sauyng to a gentylman his counteynaunce and his householde.

1576.  Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 199. Gentlemen of the best countenaunce, and highest degree of honour.

1581.  W. Stafford, Exam. Compl., ii. (1876), 64. Gentlemen … seeke to maintayne their countenaunces as their predecessors did.

a. 1617.  Bayne, On Eph. (1658), 18. Men of countenance and authority.

a. 1654.  Selden, Table-t., Fines, When a Man was Fin’d, he was to be Fin’d Salvo Contenemento, so as his Countenance might be safe.

1784.  J. Reeves, Hist. Eng. Law (1814), I. 127. Such a grievous imposition as would entirely destroy their contenement, or, to use an English term … formed from it, their countenance and appearance in the world.

  † 11.  ? Maintenance. Obs.

1538.  Bale, God’s Promises, I. in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 287. But through his ordinance Each have his strength and whole countenance.

1553.  Grimalde, Cicero’s Offices (1556), 56 b. Referred to the common use, and countenaunce of the life.