Countenance vs Relieve - What's the difference?
countenance | relieve | Related terms |
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:
To ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of.
*
, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5
, passage=Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better.}}
To ease (someone, a part of the body etc.) or give relief from physical pain or discomfort.
To alleviate (pain, distress, mental discomfort etc.).
To provide comfort or assistance to (someone in need, especially in poverty).
(obsolete) To lift up; to raise again.
(legal) To free (someone) from debt or legal obligations; to give legal relief to.
To bring military help to (a besieged town); to lift the seige on.
To release (someone) from or of a difficulty, unwanted task, responsibility etc.
(military, job) To free (someone) from their post, task etc. by taking their place.
* 1819 , (Lord Byron), , III.76:
* 1927 , (Countee Cullen), From the Dark Tower :
(reflexive) To go to the toilet; to defecate or urinate.
Countenance is a related term of relieve.
As verbs the difference between countenance and relieve
is that countenance is to tolerate, support, sanction, patronise or approve of something while relieve is to ease (a person, person's thoughts etc) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of.As a noun countenance
is appearance, especially the features and expression of the face.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
* * ----relieve
English
Verb
(reliev)- This shall not relieve either Party of any obligations.
- The henna should be deeply dyed to make / The skin relieved appear more fairly fair [...].
- The night whose sable breast relieves the stark / White stars is no less lovely being dark