This week's theme
Words that have meanings in multiple parts of speech

This week's words
paragon
countenance
gloze
tarry
bluff

On your calendar
Get A.Word.A.Day on your calendar

---

A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(KOUN-tuh-nans)

MEANING:

verb tr.:
    To tolerate or support.
noun:
    1. Appearance, especially the facial expression.
    2. The face.
    3. Composure.
    4. Approval or support.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Old French contenance (bearing), from Latin continere (to contain), from con- (with) + tenere (to hold). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ten- (to stretch), which also gave us tense, tenet, tendon, tent, tenor, tender, pretend, extend, tenure, tetanus, hypotenuse, pertinacious, and detente. Earliest documented use: around 1290.

USAGE:

"President Barack Obama said on Tuesday the United States 'will not countenance' Iran developing a nuclear weapon."
Obama Seeks to Calm 'Drumbeat of War' Over Iran; The Buenos Aires Herald (Argentina); Mar 6, 2012.

"Thomas has long possessed a fierce countenance known to intimidate."
Matt Calkins; NBA Veteran Journeyman Kurt Thomas; Columbian (Vancouver, Washington); Dec 13, 2011.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: