English → Latin
“countenance” in Latin
vultusa facial expression, look, countenance; the front of the head, face; the face as involved in looking; the view, gazeōsmouth; (in general) head or face; (in general) facial features, countenance, appearancetūtēlatutelage, guardianship; dependent, client; watching, keeping, charge, carepraesidiumdefence, protection, guardianship; help, aid, assistance; guard, garrison, convoy, escortclientēlaclientship, patronage; clientspatrōciniumprotection, defence; patronageserēnusClear, fair, bright, serene, tranquil.; That clears the sky or brings fair weather.; Cheerful, glad, joyous, bright; cleprobōto approve, permit, commend; to test, to inspect; to examine
The English word countenance itself goes back to Latin contineō, through continentia.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
countenance
vultus (the proper word): os (the whole face, as image of the inner man). A friendly countenance, vultus benignus: a cheerful countenance, vultus hilaris, serenus: a quiet or tranquil countenance, vultus tranquillus: a tranquil and serene countenance, frons tranquilla et serena (Cic., Tusc., 3, 15, 31): a sad countenance, vultus moestus: a sad or dull countenance, vultus tristis: a serious countenance, vultus severus; vultus adductus (wrinkled like that of one deep in thought): an important countenance, supercilium grande (Juvenal, 6, 169): a bold or inpudent countenance, os durum or ferreum (as quality; from context, os only, as Cic., Verr., 4, 29, 66; os hominis insignemque impudentiam cognoscite): a hypocritical countenance, vultus ficti, simulati: to assume a calm countenance, frontem explicare or exporrigere; faciem or vultum diffundere; frontem remittere: to put on a sad countenance, vultum ad tristitiam adducere: to assume a serious countenance, severum vultum induere; vultum adducere (that of a person profoundly thinking): to assume an angry countenance, frontem contrahere: to assume a threatening countenance, supercilia tollere (☞ Catullus, 57, 46): to put on a different countenance, vultum mutare: novos capere vultus (poetical); vultum fingere (i. e., a countenance not corresponding with one’s feelings; e.g., a cheerful countenance while one is mourning, Vid: Caes., B.G., 1, 39, med.): To have a cheerful, dull, sad, etc., countenance, hilari, moesto, tristi, etc., vultu esse: to take anything with a cheerful countenance, benigno vultu aliquid excipere (after Ov., Fast., 1, 3): to invite anybody with a friendly countenance, aliquem benigno vultu in hospitium invitare (Liv. 26, 28): stupidity is written on anybody’s countenance, vecordia piorsus inest in alicujus vultu: to change countenance [Vid: To CHANGE color]: to put out of countenance, aliquem differre (to put him out, so that he does not know what to say; Vid: Ruhnken, Ter. Andr., 2, 4, 5); aliquem or alicujus animum conturbare or perturbare (to confuse anybody): aliquem in angustias adducere (stronger): to keep one’s countenance, risum tenere or continere.
Encouragement, tutela (☞ The nearest words are those that imply favor, protection, approval): praesidium: clientela (PROP., the relation of the protégé to his protector): patrocinium (paternal protection which a patron affords to his client): to give countenance, alicui auxiliari or opem ferre; alicui favere. [Vid: To COUNTENANCE.] To claim anybody’s countenance and protection, conferre se in fidem et clientelam alicujus (Cic.); commendare se alicui in clientelam et fidem (Terentianus).
countenance v.
alicui auxiliari or opem ferre (render assistance): alicui favere (to favor anybody, or promote his interests by advice and assistance): alicui tribuere (to be favorably disposed towards anybody, to interest one’s self for him; e.g., cum ordini publicanorum libentissime tribuerim, Cic.). [Vid: also, To FAVOR.] You countenance it, if you do not cry out against it, *rem, cum quiescis, probas (after Cic.).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for countenance?
- The usual Latin words for “countenance” are vultus, ōs, tūtēla; also praesidium, clientēla, patrōcinium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.