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Definition of "discountenance" [dis•coun•te•nance]

  • To view or treat with disfavor. (verb-transitive)
  • To put out of countenance; disconcert. (verb-transitive)
  • Disfavor or disapproval. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "discountenance" in a sentence
  • "It is a duty society owes to itself to discountenance everything which tends to vitiate public taste."
  • "Toward the preservation of your Government and the permanency of your present happy state, it is requisite not only that you steadily discountenance irregular oppositions to its acknowledged authority, but also that you resist with care the spirit of innovation upon its principles, however specious the pretexts."
  • "His second duty is to see that nothing is said in the news items or editorials which may discountenance any claims or announcements made by his advertisers, discredit their standing or good faith, or expose any weakness or deception in any business venture that is or may become a valuable advertiser."