---
title: countenance — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «countenance» in the school dictionary: A person's face, or the look on it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# countenance

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** teacher, old man, countenance, Alice, Mock Turtle, headteacher · **What happens:** allow, approve, use, not countenance, keep, not laugh · **To what, where:** countenance, cheating, calm straight face, kind countenance, news, bullying · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«countenance» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [countenance in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/countenance.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal, old-fashioned — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person's face, or the look on it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countenance:m1:1
# text = A person's face, or the look on it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb, formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To allow or approve of something, usually used in «not countenance»: the teacher would not countenance cheating.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countenance:m2:1
# text = To allow or approve of something, usually used in «not countenance»: the teacher would not countenance cheating.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	allow	allow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	approve	approve	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	countenance	countenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
18	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
20	countenance	countenance	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
21	cheating	cheating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **allow** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Causer |
| 2 | **approve** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | of something | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **use** | participle |  |  |  | countenance |  | usually *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **not** **countenance** | would | the teacher | cheating |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: in «keep your countenance» — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
to keep a calm, straight face and not laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countenance:m3:1
# text = to keep a calm, straight face and not laugh.
1	to	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | to-infinitive |  | a calm straight face |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent face=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **laugh** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old man had a kind countenance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countenance:x1:1
# text = The old man had a kind countenance.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	countenance	countenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the old man | a kind countenance |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent countenance=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His countenance fell when he heard the news.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countenance:x2:1
# text = His countenance fell when he heard the news.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	countenance	countenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | past | His countenance |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **hear** | past | countenance | the news |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer news=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alice could hardly keep her countenance when the Mock Turtle sang.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countenance:x3:1
# text = Alice could hardly keep her countenance when the Mock Turtle sang.
1	Alice	Alice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	countenance	countenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	11	mark	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	Mock	Mock	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	Turtle	Turtle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | could | Alice | Alice's countenance |  |  |  | hardly *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent countenance=Theme |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | the Mock Turtle |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The headteacher would not countenance bullying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countenance:x4:1
# text = The headteacher would not countenance bullying.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	headteacher	headteacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	countenance	countenance	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **countenance** | would | the headteacher | bullying |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Badger's countenance was stern but kind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countenance:x5:1
# text = The Badger's countenance was stern but kind.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Badger	Badger	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	countenance	countenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	stern	stern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the Badger's countenance |  |  |  |  | stern *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the Badger's countenance *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«The Lord make his face shine upon you,» says the blessing in the Bible.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countenance:x6:1
# text = «The Lord make his face shine upon you,» says the blessing in the Bible.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Lord	Lord	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	ccomp	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	shine	shine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
12	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	blessing	blessing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** *in a quote* | infinitive | the Lord | Lord's face shine |  |  |  | upon you | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shine=Product |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the blessing |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her countenance brightened when she saw the letter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countenance:x7:1
# text = Her countenance brightened when she saw the letter.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	countenance	countenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:outer	_	_
3	brightened	brighten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	parataxis	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **brighten** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **see** | past | Her countenance | the letter |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer letter=Stimulus |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad would never countenance lying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countenance:x8:1
# text = Dad would never countenance lying.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	countenance	countenance	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **countenance** | would | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lie** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her countenance glowed, and her eyes were like two stars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countenance:x9:1
# text = Her countenance glowed, and her eyes were like two stars.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	countenance	countenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	glowed	glow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **glow** | past | Her countenance |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | countenance's eyes |  |  |  |  | like two stars | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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