countenance
-
- Senior Lexiterian
- Posts: 611
- Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:14 pm
countenance
The noun and verb versions of this word do not seem to share the same origin. Although if you think of this word as meaning face, it fits in nicely with both.
William A. Hupy
- Slava
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 8150
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
- Location: Finger Lakes, NY
Re: countenance
Why do you say they have different roots?
Here is what etymonline has to say:
countenance (v.) late 15c., "to behave or act," from countenance (n.). Sense of "to favor, patronize" is from 1560s, from notion of "to look upon with sanction or smiles."
countenance (n.) mid-13c., from Old French contenance "demeanor, bearing, conduct," from Latin continentia "restraint, abstemiousness, moderation," literally "way one contains oneself," from continentem, present participle of continere (see contain). Meaning evolving Middle English from "appearance" to "facial expression betraying a state of mind," to "face" itself (late 14c.).
A good word for the Agora, though.
Here is what etymonline has to say:
countenance (v.) late 15c., "to behave or act," from countenance (n.). Sense of "to favor, patronize" is from 1560s, from notion of "to look upon with sanction or smiles."
countenance (n.) mid-13c., from Old French contenance "demeanor, bearing, conduct," from Latin continentia "restraint, abstemiousness, moderation," literally "way one contains oneself," from continentem, present participle of continere (see contain). Meaning evolving Middle English from "appearance" to "facial expression betraying a state of mind," to "face" itself (late 14c.).
A good word for the Agora, though.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
Return to “Good Word Suggestions”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests