| 释义 |
▪ I. discountenance, v.|dɪˈskaʊntɪnəns|
[ad. obs. F. descontenancer (16th c. in Littré, and in Cotgr.), to abash, put out of countenance, mod.F. décontenancer, f. des-, dis- 4 + contenancer to countenance. In some of the English senses, it is used as if f. dis- 7 + countenance n. Cf. deface in some of its senses.]
†1. trans. To put another countenance on, to mask. Obs. rare.
1587Golding De Mornay xii. 171 His own ambition, which was peraduenture discountenanced to the common people, but could not be counterfetted before God, who seeth the very bottome of our hearts.
2. To put out of countenance, put to shame, disconcert, discourage, abash. (Chiefly in pa. pple.)
1580Sidney Arcadia (1613) 69 Thinking it want of education which made him so discountenanced with vnwonted presence. 1599B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. iii. i, Sir, let not this dis-countenance, or dis-gallant you a whit. 1671Milton P.R. ii. 218 How would one look from his majestic brow..Discountenance her despised. 1690The Gt. Scanderbeg 89 He was no more discountenanced then, than if he had been at the head of his Army. 1707Norris Treat. Humility ix. 359 How is my pride further discountenanced, when I see thee my Lord..chusing to unite thyself..with flesh and blood. 1862Carlyle Fredk. Gt. (1865) III. viii. vi. 55 He appeared much discountenanced at this last part of my narrative.
3. To withdraw one's countenance from, set the countenance against; to show disapprobation of; to discourage, disfavour:
a. a person.
1591Spenser Tears Muses 340 We silly Maides, whom they..with reprochfull scorne discountenaunce. 1631Gouge God's Arrows i. §45. 76 Discouraging and dis⁓countenancing the upright. 1656H. More Enthus. Tri. 23 Such Mock-prophets and false Messiases as these will be discountenanced and hissed off of the stage. 1807W. H. Ireland Mod. Ship of Fools 251 note, He..discountenanced him from that hour. 18..Proclamation at Quarter Sessions, That all Persons of Honour, or in Place of Authority, will..to their utmost contribute to the discountenancing Persons of dissolute and immoral Lives.
b. an act, practice, or the like.
1589Fleming Georg. Virg. Ded., Ripe to deface and dis⁓countenance, but rawe to correct or imitate the commendable trauels of well affected Students. 1646P. Bulkeley Gospel Covt. iii. 256 Profanenesse is discountenanced by all. 1709Steele Tatler No. 39 ⁋10 Duels are neither quite discountenanc'd, nor much in vogue. 1766Burke Wks. II. 5 The late administration..discountenanced..the dangerous and unconstitutional practise of removing military officers for their votes in Parliament. 1872Yeats Growth Comm. 343 The traffic was discountenanced.
Hence diˈscountenanced ppl. a., -ing vbl. n.
1597Bp. J. King Jonas (1618) 76 Discountenancings, disturbings, dispossessings of them. 1612Brinsley Lud. Lit. xxvii. (1627) 276 By the incouragement and commendation of vertue, and discountenancing of vice. 1643Milton Divorce Introd. (1851) 4 The sole advocate of a discount'nanc't truth. 1667Locke Ess. Toleration in Fox Bourne Locke (1876) I. iv. 189 The discountenancing of popery amongst us. 1675Art Contentm. iv. ix. 198 The most discountenanc'd child oft makes better proof than the dearling. 1749W. Dodwell Free Answer 97 To prevent their preaching a discountenanced Doctrine.
▪ II. discountenance, n. arch.|dɪˈskaʊntɪnəns|
[partly ad. OF. descontenance (14th c. in Littré), partly an Eng. formation from dis- 9 + countenance n., after the vb.]
1. The act or fact of discountenancing; unfavourable aspect, disfavour or disapprobation shown.
1580North Plutarch (1595) 829 He thought that the estimation of Cato was altogether the discountenance of his [own] power and greatnesse. 1642Jer. Taylor Episc. (1647) 338 All discountenance and disgrace done to the Clergy reflect upon Christ. 1673Essex Papers (Camden) I. 151 The countenance given to the subscribers and discountenance to the refusers. 1779–81Johnson L.P., Milton Wks. II. 176 His great works were performed under discountenance. 1812Shelley Proposals Pr. Wks. 1888 I. 272 The discountenance which Government will show to such an association. 1862Ld. Brougham Brit. Const. i. 4 Discountenance of warlike policy.
b. with a and pl.
a1628F. Greville Sidney (1652) 19 Any man..might..see how to set a good countenance upon all the discountenances of adversitie. 1749Fielding Tom Jones xviii. iii, Whether it be that the one way of cheating is a discountenance or reflection upon the other, or [etc.].
†2. The fact or state of being put out of countenance; discomposure of face; abashment. Obs.
a1628F. Greville Sidney vii. (1652) 86 The discountenance, and depression which appeared in Sir Francis. 1656Sir J. Finett For. Ambass. 39 Much to their discountenance and discontent. |