Contenaunce

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. An archaic spelling of the face or the look it shows ; the calm composure a person keeps under pressure ; to give backing to or sanction an action
2. A person's face or the expression it wears ; a steady calm kept when under strain ; to tolerate or endorse something as acceptable
3. The visage or outward look of someone ; the self-possession that keeps a person composed ; to back, allow, or lend approval to a course of action

Etymology: In Old French, "contenance" meant a person's bearing or demeanour. It comes from "contenir", to hold or contain, the same root as English "contain". The link is the idea of holding oneself together: a composed manner was a good "contenance", so to keep one's countenance meant to keep one's composure. The sense of the face came later. A person's demeanour shows in their features, so the word moved from how someone carries themselves to the face that expresses it. The Middle English spelling "contenaunce" shows the word already in use in English, carrying the older sense of bearing.

Synonyms: countenance, face, expression, demeanor, bearing