countenance
[kʲʰæũ̯.ʔɪ̆.nəns]
Group 13Difficulty 2/3
Definitions
- (verb)
- To admit as acceptable; to tolerate GRE
- (noun)
- A person's face or facial expression GRE
Example in Context
The university refused to countenance any form of academic dishonesty, imposing severe penalties even for first-time offenses.
Synonyms
tolerateacceptapprove
Etymology
To hold together or accept something as valid or tolerable.
- com- (Latin) — with
- tenere (Latin) — to hold
Memory Aid
🐜Sounds like “count ten ants”
Imagine a teacher COUNTING TEN ANTS on her desk, trying to tolerate their antics instead of freaking out — she is willing to COUNTENANCE them!
Visual Association
👍A person giving a thumbs up while watching a movie they find mediocre but still enjoyable.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “countenance” mean on the GRE?
countenance (verb) means “To admit as acceptable; to tolerate”. The university refused to countenance any form of academic dishonesty, imposing severe penalties even for first-time offenses.
How to remember “countenance” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “countenance” sounds like “count ten ants”. Imagine a teacher COUNTING TEN ANTS on her desk, trying to tolerate their antics instead of freaking out — she is willing to COUNTENANCE them!
What are synonyms for “countenance”?
Common synonyms: tolerate, accept, approve.