Word: countenance (noun)

Associations

Countenance refers to a person's face or facial expression. It can show emotions like happiness, sadness, or anger.

• Example 1: "Her countenance brightened when she saw her friend." (This shows that her facial expression changed to one of happiness.)
• Example 2: "Despite his calm countenance, he was very nervous inside." (Here, it means that his face looked calm, but he felt differently.)
• Example 3: "The teacher's stern countenance made the students quiet." (This means that the teacher's serious face caused the students to be silent.)

A well-known synonym for countenance is "facial expression." The important difference is that "countenance" can also imply the overall appearance or demeanor of a person, while "facial expression" focuses only on the face.

Substitution

Some other words you could use instead of countenance are:

• "face" (more general)
• "visage" (a more poetic term for face)
• "expression" (focuses on emotion)

Using "face" might not convey the same depth of feeling or character as "countenance," while "visage" might sound more formal or artistic.

Deconstruction

The word countenance comes from Middle English "countenans," which means "the face or appearance." It has roots in the Latin word "continentia," meaning "to hold together" or "to contain." This relates to how a person's face can hold or express emotions.

Inquiry

• How do you think someone's countenance can change in different situations, like at a party versus during a serious meeting?
• Can you think of a time when someone's countenance helped you understand how they were feeling, even without words?
• How does your own countenance change when you are happy, sad, or angry?