Countenance vs Approbation - What's the difference?
countenance | approbation |
Appearance, especially the features and expression of the face.
* , Genesis 4:5
*{{quote-book, year=1959, author=(Georgette Heyer), title=(The Unknown Ajax), chapter=1
, passage=But Richmond, his grandfather's darling, after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance appeared to lose himself in his own reflections.}}
Favour; support; encouragement.
* (Bible), (Psalms) xxi. 6
* (Francis Atterbury) (1663-1732)
(label) Superficial appearance; show; pretense.
* (Roger Ascham) (1515-1568)
To tolerate, support, sanction, patronise or approve of something.
* 1925 , Franz Kafka, The Trial'', ''Vintage Books (London) , pg. 99:
The act of approving; an assenting to the propriety of a thing with some degree of pleasure or satisfaction; approval, sanction, commendation or official recognition
* (rfdate)
* (rfdate)
* 1871 , , Descent of Man , ch. 3:
(material dates from 1913)
As nouns the difference between countenance and approbation
is that countenance is appearance, especially the features and expression of the face while approbation is the act of approving; an assenting to the propriety of a thing with some degree of pleasure or satisfaction; approval, sanction, commendation or official recognition.As a verb countenance
is to tolerate, support, sanction, patronise or approve of something.countenance
English
Alternative forms
* countenaunce (obsolete)Noun
(en noun)- But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
- Thou hast made himglad with thy countenance .
- This is the magistrate's peculiar province, to give countenance to piety and virtue, and to rebuke vice.
- The election being done, he made countenance of great discontent thereat.
Synonyms
* See alsoVerb
(countenanc)- ''The cruel punishment was countenanced by the government, although it was not officially legal.
- For the Defence was not actually countenanced by the Law, but only tolerated, and there were differences of opinion even on that point, whether the Law could be interpreted to admit such tolerances at all.
Synonyms
* approve, sanction, support, tolerateReferences
* * ----approbation
English
Noun
(en noun)- Many...joined in a loud hum of approbation .
- The silent approbation of one's own breast.
- [A]nimals not only love, but have desire to be loved. . . . They love approbation or praise.
Usage notes
* Approbation and approval have the same general meaning, assenting to or declaring as good, sanction, commendation; but approbation is stronger and more positive. We may be anxious for the approbation of our friends; but we should be still more anxious for the approval of our own consciences.'' ''He who is desirous to obtain universal approbation will learn a good lesson from the fable of the old man and his ass.'' ''The work has been examined by several excellent judges, who have expressed their unqualified approval of its plan and execution.(material dates from 1913)