
countenance
词源
源自中古英语countenaunce,古法语contenance(行为,举止),最终来自拉丁语continentia(自我控制),由com-(共同)和tenere(持有)组成。
noun
❶ 指人的面部表情或面容,通常反映情绪或性格特征。常用于描述镇定、严肃或支持的态度。
“Her calm countenance hid the anxiety she felt inside.”
(她平静的面容掩盖了内心的焦虑。)
“The teacher's stern countenance silenced the noisy classroom.”
(老师严厉的表情让吵闹的教室安静下来。)
❶ 表示支持或认可,常用于正式场合描述对某事的公开赞同态度。
“The mayor refused to give his countenance to the controversial project.”
(市长拒绝为这个有争议的项目提供支持。)
“The committee lent its countenance to the new policy.”
(委员会公开支持这项新政策。)
verb
❶ 正式批准或容忍某事,通常用于否定句或疑问句,表示不愿接受某种行为。
“The school will not countenance bullying in any form.”
(学校绝不姑息任何形式的霸凌行为。)
“How can you countenance such rude behavior?”
(你怎么能容忍如此粗鲁的行为?)
常见短语
keep one's countenance — 保持镇定表情,尤指在困难或尴尬场合控制面部表情不显露真实情绪。
“She kept her countenance despite the embarrassing mistake.”
(尽管犯了尴尬的错误,她仍保持着镇定的表情。)
lose countenance — 因惊讶或尴尬而失去镇定,面部表情失控。
“He lost countenance when confronted with the evidence.”
(面对证据时,他顿时脸色大变。)