countenance
verb/noun C2
Plain meaning
as a verb, to accept or allow something; as a noun, a person’s face or expression
Exam-register meaning
to tolerate, sanction, or permit an action, often despite moral concern
In context
naturalThe principal refused to countenance cheating of any kind.
examA democratic society cannot countenance policies that systematically deny basic rights.
Common collocations
countenance an actioncountenance a proposalserene countenance
Watch out
In modern academic writing, countenance as a verb means tolerate/allow, not “count”.
Word family
countenanced (verb)countenancing (verb/participle)