I. coun ‧ te ‧ nance 1 /ˈkaʊntənəns, ˈkaʊntɪnəns/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: contenance 'behavior' , from Latin continentia 'holding back from doing what you want, continence' , from continere ; ⇨ ↑ contain ]
[countable] literary your face or your expression:
All colour drained from her countenance.
II. countenance 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
formal to accept, support, or approve of something
countenance (somebody) doing something
I will not countenance you being rude to Dr Baxter.