Lexic.us

Definition of Discountenance

1. Verb. Look with disfavor on. "The republic soon discountenanced its few friends"

2. Verb. Show disapproval by discouraging. "Any measure tending to fuse invalids into a class with special privileges should be discountenanced"

Definition of Discountenance

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

2. n. Unfavorable aspect; unfriendly regard; cold treatment; disapprobation; whatever tends to check or discourage.

Definition of Discountenance

1. Verb. To have an unfavorable opinion of; to deprecate or disapprove ¹

2. Verb. To abash, embarrass or disconcert ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Discountenance

1. [v -NANCED, -NANCING, -NANCES]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Discountenance

discounsel discounselled discount discount business discount chain discount department store discount department stores discount house discount rate discount rates

discount store discount stores discountability discountable discounted discountenance discountenanced discountenancer discountenancers discountenances

discountenancing discounter discounters discounting discounts discourage discourageable discouraged discouragement discouragements

Literary usage of Discountenance

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Daniel Defoe: His Life and Recently Discovered Writings: Extending from 1716 by Lee, William, Daniel Defoe (1869)
"... Duty of Journalists to Discountenance Plots. AJ, Aug. 25.—Sir, In these Times of Plot and Proclamation, I cannot but hint to you how much it is, ..."

2. The Edinburgh Review by Sydney Smith (1869)
"On the real character of Edward's discountenance of Balliol we confess ourselves disposed to agree with the writers to whom we have referred; ..."

3. Travels in New-England and New-York by Timothy Dwight (1823)
"... of Law and to discountenance Vice. Settled from NewEngland. Suffolk County. Gardiner's Island. ..."

4. The Scottish Jurist: Containing Reports of Cases Decided in the House of by House of Lords, Great Britain Parliament. House of Lords, Parliament, Great Britain (1832)
"That being the case, there is some doubt whether, this being an equitable court, we are not bound to discountenance this fourth article ; but when your ..."

5. The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England: Together with an by Edward Hyde Clarendon (1849)
"... reason and confessed law rejected, and overruled with contempt and noise, were liable to all the personal reproaches and discountenance that the pride ..."

6. Collections of the New York Historical Society for the Year by New-York Historical Society (1878)
"... the most respectable People in this Place who promote Peace and discountenance Violence. I am—. ..."

7. History of the Life and Times of James Madison by William Cabell Rives (1868)
"... and a Steady Pursuit of Constitutional Remedies—Republican Statesmen discountenance every Suggestion of Disunion — Remarkable Letter of Mr. Jefferson ..."

Other Resources: