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Instigate vs Countenance - What's the difference?

instigate | countenance | Related terms |

Instigate is a related term of countenance.


As verbs the difference between instigate and countenance

is that instigate is to goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite while countenance is to tolerate, support, sanction, patronise or approve of something.

As a noun countenance is

appearance, especially the features and expression of the face.

instigate

English

(Webster 1913)

Verb

(instigat)
  • To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite.
    • He hath only instigated his blackest agents to the very extent of their malignity. -Bp. Warburton.

    Usage notes

    Commonly used with reference to evil actions; as, to instigate one to a crime.

    Synonyms

    * (to goad or urge forward): animate, encourage, impel, incite, provoke, spur, stimulate, tempt, urge

    Antonyms

    * (to goad or urge forward): halt, prevent, stop

    Derived terms

    * instigation * instigator

    External links

    * * ----

    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

    * * ----