'Countenance' is Latin for 'how you hold yourself together' — your composure made visible in your face.
As a noun, a person's face or facial expression; composure or self-control. As a verb, to admit as acceptable; to tolerate or approve.
From Old French 'contenance' (demeanor, bearing, composure), from Latin 'continentia' (self-restraint, composure), from 'continēre' (to hold together, to restrain), from 'con-' (together) + 'tenēre' (to hold), from PIE *ten- (to stretch, to hold). Your countenance is literally how you 'hold yourself together' — your outward composure, visible in your face. The verb sense (to countenance something) means
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