Countenance vs Demur - What's the difference?
countenance | demur |
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:
(obsolete) To linger; to stay; to tarry
* Nicols
To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair.
* Hayward
To scruple or object; to take exception; to oppose; to balk
(legal) To interpose a demurrer.
(obsolete) To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate about
(obsolete) To cause delay to; to put off
* Quarles
Stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision or action; scruple.
* 2004 , (Richard Fortey), The Earth , Folio Society 2011, p. 132:
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In lang=en terms the difference between countenance and demur
is that countenance is to tolerate, support, sanction, patronise or approve of something while demur is to scruple or object; to take exception; to oppose; to balk.As nouns the difference between countenance and demur
is that countenance is appearance, especially the features and expression of the face while demur is stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision or action; scruple.As verbs the difference between countenance and demur
is that countenance is to tolerate, support, sanction, patronise or approve of something while demur is (obsolete) to linger; to stay; to tarry.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
* * ----demur
English
Verb
(demurr)- Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the camp.
- Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit to demur .
- I demur to that statement.
- The personnel demurred at the management's new scheme.
- The latter I demur , for in their looks / Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears. -
- He demands a fee, / And then demurs me with a vain delay.
Noun
(en noun)- All my demurs but double his attacks; At last he whispers, ``Do; and we go snacks.'' -
- Most geologists today would accept such evidence without demur , but it was still ‘fringe’ science when du Toit was publishing.