DISCOUNTENANCE, verb transitive [dis and countenance.] 1. To abash; to ruffle or discompose the countenance; to put to shame; to put out of countenance. [Not used.] How would one look from his majestic brow--Discountenance her despised. 2. To discourage; to check; to restrain by frowns, censure, arguments, opposition, or cold treatment. The good citizen will discountenance vice by every lawful means. DISCOUNTENANCE, noun Cold treatment; unfavorable aspect; unfriendly regard; disapprobation; whatever tends to check or discourage. He thought a little discountenance on those persons would suppress that spirit.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI