countenance in WordNet English dictionary

1. consent to, give permission
   "She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband"; "I won't let the police search her basement"; "I cannot allow you to see your exam"
   permit  allow  let  countenance 
   

1. the appearance conveyed by a person's face
   "a pleasant countenance"; "a stern visage"
   countenance  visage 
   
2. the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British)
   countenance  physiognomy  phiz  visage  kisser  smiler  mug 
   
3. formal and explicit approval
   "a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement"
   sanction  countenance  endorsement  indorsement  warrant  imprimatur