countenance

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The Word of the Day for October 25 is: 

countenance   \KOWN-tun-unss ("OW" as in "gown")\   noun
     1 a : calm expression  b : mental composure  c : look, 
expression
    *2 : face, visage; especially : the face as an indication of 
mood, emotion, or character
     3 : bearing or expression that offers approval or 
sanction : moral support

Example sentence:
     The downcast eyes, the knitted brow, the generally fretful 
countenance -- Edgar showed all the signs of a wounded heart.

Did you know?
     "Countenance" is one of several English descendants of the 
Latin "continere," a verb meaning "to hold together," "to 
hold in," or "to contain." There is documented evidence 
of "countenance" being used in English as far back as the 13th 
century, when it was adopted from the Anglo-French "contenance," 
which in turn derived from the Latin "continentia," 
meaning "restraint." A close cousin of "countenance" is the 
adjective "continent," meaning "exercising self-restraint." 
Other descendants of "continere" in English 
include "contain," "content," and "continuous."
 
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.