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Countenance vs Condone - What's the difference?

countenance | condone |

In transitive terms the difference between countenance and condone

is that countenance is to tolerate, support, sanction, patronise or approve of something while condone is to allow, accept or permit (something).

As a noun countenance

is appearance, especially the features and expression of the face.

countenance

English

Alternative forms

* countenaunce (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • Appearance, especially the features and expression of the face.
  • * , Genesis 4:5
    • But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
  • *{{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
    • Thou hast made himglad with thy countenance .
  • * (Francis Atterbury) (1663-1732)
    • This is the magistrate's peculiar province, to give countenance to piety and virtue, and to rebuke vice.
  • (label) Superficial appearance; show; pretense.
  • * (Roger Ascham) (1515-1568)
    • The election being done, he made countenance of great discontent thereat.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Verb

    (countenanc)
  • To tolerate, support, sanction, patronise or approve of something.
    • ''The cruel punishment was countenanced by the government, although it was not officially legal.
  • * 1925 , Franz Kafka, The Trial'', ''Vintage Books (London) , pg. 99:
    • 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, tolerate

    References

    * * ----

    condone

    English

    Verb

    (condon)
  • To forgive, excuse or overlook (something).
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=18 citation , passage=‘Then the father has a great fight with his terrible conscience,’ said Munday with granite seriousness. ‘Should he make a row with the police […]?  Or should he say nothing about it and condone brutality for fear of appearing in the newspapers?}}
  • To allow, accept or permit (something).
  • (legal) To forgive (marital infidelity or other marital offense).

    • Anagrams

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