countenance

Object

• possibility: More recently, however, even against a background of media concern, judges have refused to countenance the possibility of error.
• reform: Neither the Conservatives nor Labor appear to countenance such reform.
• idea: Any government which countenances the idea that Britain should be willing to deport people to face torture or death should be ashamed of itself.
• change: Without the willingness to countenance change, these improvements would not be affordable.

Converse of object

• smile: Be friendly with all and have a smiling countenance always.
• give: Not, assuredly, to boast; not, assuredly, to give the slightest countenance to complacency.
• keep: Once again, please be strong in your heart and keep a neutral countenance when you talk to the police.

Adjective modifier

• swarthy: It was the name of the fellow with the swarthy countenance.
• cheerful: About her twentieth year she is described as being somewhat above the middle height, possessing a graceful form and an open cheerful countenance.
• fierce: The sole surviving daguerreotype of Kirker reveals a dark-skinned man with a fierce countenance.
• angry: If you will show him a harsh and angry countenance he will do the same.
• sad: One morning Roy entered the hut with a slow step and a sad countenance.

Modifying Another Word

• never: You have never countenanced the evil doctrine of the brute coercion of the human will.
• even: Once you've put it on, losing weight is a much, much bigger battle than thin people can even countenance.
• not: The College does not countenance any research which harms the health or welfare of any of our animals.
• only: Mugabe countenances not only the murder of white farmers, but also of his own people if they oppose him politically.

Noun used with modifier

• thy: How long, 0 my mistress, till thy countenance be turned toward me.
• cannot: He cannot countenance living in the community at all.

Preposition: of

man: I watched the countenance of the man while the different persons were bidding on his wife.