count (n.) Look up count at countdown (n.) Look up countdown at
1953, American English, in early use especially of launches of
rockets or missiles, from count (v.) + down. countenance (v.)
Look up countenance at late 15c., "to behave or act," from
countenance (n.). Sense of "to favor, patronize" is from 1560s,
from notion of "to look upon with sanction or smiles." Related:
Countenanced; countenancing. countenance (n.) Look up
countenance at mid-13c., from Old French contenance "demeanor,
bearing, conduct," from Latin continentia "restraint,
abstemiousness, moderation," literally "way one contains
oneself," from continentem, present participle of continere (see
contain). Meaning evolving Middle English from "appearance" to
"facial expression betraying a state of mind," to "face" itself
(late 14c.). counter (n.) Look up counter at mid-14c., "table
where a money lender does business," from Old French contouer,
comptoir (14c.) "counting room, table of a bank," from Medieval
Latin computatorium "place of accounts,