Etymology of the English word countenance
the English word
countenancederived from the Old French word
contenancederived from the Old French word
contenirderived from the Latin word
continere (hinder, contain, shut in; keep, hold, hang together; secure, maintain, sustain)
using the Latin prefix
con- (together)
derived from the Latin prefix
com-derived from the Latin word
cum (with)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*kom (near, with, together)
derived from the Medieval Latin word
tenere (hold, keep; comprehend; represent; support)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ten-derived from the Old French word
contenauncederived from the Old French word
contenirderived from the Latin word
continere (hinder, contain, shut in; keep, hold, hang together; secure, maintain, sustain)
using the Latin prefix
con- (together)
derived from the Latin prefix
com-derived from the Latin word
cum (with)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*kom (near, with, together)
derived from the Medieval Latin word
tenere (hold, keep; comprehend; represent; support)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ten-Date
The earliest known usage of countenance in English dates from the 13th century.
Derivations in English
discountenance,
countenanced,
countenancingUsage
Word found in Modern English
