discountenance - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

dis·coun·te·nance

Audio Help [dis-koun-tn-uh

ns] Pronunciation Key verb, -nanced, -nanc·ing, noun

–verb (used with object)

1.	to disconcert, embarrass, or abash: With his composure, he survived every attempt to discountenance him.

2.	to show disapproval of: The teachers discountenanced smoking by the students.

–noun

3.	disapproval; disapprobation.

[Origin: 1570–80; dis-¹ + countenance

]

—Related forms

dis·coun·te·nanc·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
discountenance

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

dis·coun·te·nance Audio Help (dĭs-koun'tə-nəns) Pronunciation Key
tr.v. dis·coun·te·nanced, dis·coun·te·nanc·ing, dis·coun·te·nanc·es

To view or treat with disfavor.
To put out of countenance; disconcert.

n. Disfavor or disapproval.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
discountenance

"put to shame," 1580, from M.Fr. descontenancer "to abash," from des- "dis-" + contenancer (see countenance).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

discountenance
verb
1.	look with disfavor on; "The republic soon discountenanced its few friends"
2.	show disapproval by discouraging; "any measure tending to fuse invalids into a class with special privileges should be discountenanced"

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Discountenance

Dis*coun"te*nance\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discountenanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Discountenancing.] [Pref. dis- + countenance: cf. OF. descontenancer, F. d['e]contenancer.]

1. To ruffle or discompose the countenance of; to put of countenance; to put to shame; to abash.

How would one look from his majestic brow . . . Discountenance her despised! --Milton.

The hermit was somewhat discountenanced by this observation. --Sir W. Scott.

2. To refuse to countenance, or give the support of one's approval to; to give one's influence against; to restrain by cold treatment; to discourage.

A town meeting was convened to discountenance riot. --Bancroft.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Discountenance

Dis*coun"te*nance\, n. Unfavorable aspect; unfriendly regard; cold treatment; disapprobation; whatever tends to check or discourage.

He thought a little discountenance on those persons would suppress that spirit. --Clarendon.

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