| 释义 |
ˈcounter-
prefix:—ME. and AF. countre-, a. F. contre- (= Pr. It. contra-):—L. contrā adv. and prefix (see contra-) against, in return. The form in which the Lat. prefix has come down through Fr. into Eng. Used in words actually adopted from earlier F., as counterbalance, counterchange, counterfeit, countermand, countermarch, countermark, countermure, counterpoise, counterseal, countersign, etc., and their derivatives; also in adaptations of later F. or Italian words in contre-, contra-; and in many words formed after them in English. Counter has thus become a living element of the language, capable of entering into new combinations even with words of Teutonic origin. It may be prefixed, when required, to almost any substantive expressing action, as motion, counter-motion, current, counter-current, or even to any word in which action or incidence is imputed, as measure, counter-measure, poison, counter-poison. Hence it is often viewed as an independent element, written separately, and practically treated as an adjective: see counter a.
In those compounds which we have taken from French or Italian, the consolidation of the word is usually greater than in those formed in English, and they are regularly written as single words, as counterbalance, counterfeit, countermand, countermarch, though sometimes with the hyphen. The stress is normally, in verbs and their derivatives, on the root, in nouns and their derivatives, on the prefix: cf. to underˈgo, ˈundertone. But there are exceptions, esp. where the noun stress is taken by a verb of the same form, as in to ˈcounterfeit. In words formed in English the two elements are in looser union, both accentually and in writing. In verbs the rhetorical or antithetical stress on the prefix may be equal to, or even for the nonce stronger than, that normally on the root, as in to plan and ˈcounter-ˈplan (ˈcounter-ˌplan), and the two parts are properly hyphened. In nouns, when the counter- word is contrasted explicitly or implicitly with the simple word (as in 3, 4, 5), the predominant stress of the prefix is strongly marked, as in ˈcounter-cheer, ˈcounter-aˌnnouncement. These are properly written with the hyphen (now rarely as a single word, but occasionally in two separate words). When such a contrast is not distinctly present (as in 6, 9), the predominance of the prefix is less marked, and the root-element may receive an equal or greater stress; in such case there is a growing tendency to write the prefix as a separate qualifying word, and in fact to treat it as an adjective. Thus counter-side, counter-truth, become counter side, counter truth: see counter a.
All permanent compounds in counter-, with some of the more important of the looser combinations, are given in their alphabetical order; of the casual combinations (many of them nonce-words) of obvious meaning, examples here follow.
I.
1. a. verbs, as counteract, counter-make, counter-say, counterweigh, counter-work, with their derivatives: which see in their alphabetic places. Also many nonce-words, either contextual, or framed as literal equivalents of French or Italian verbs in contre-, contra-, expressing the doing of a thing or performance of an action in the opposite direction or sense, with a contrary effect, or in opposition, retort, or response to the action expressed by the simple verb; sometimes with the notion of rivalling or outdoing, checking or frustrating that action; sometimes merely in reciprocation. Such verbs were formerly more frequently formed and used than now. Examples: counter-address, counter-advise, counter-affirm, counter-ambush, counter-avouch, counter-beat, counter-bid, counter-bore, counter-cross, counter-dance, counter-dig, counter-fix, counter-gird, counter-judge, counter-lock, counter-meet, counter-petition, counter-plan, counter-please, counter-post, counter-pray, counter-preach, counter-prick, counter-refer, counter-ruin, counter-shine, counter-state, counter-swear, counter-thwart, counter-traverse, counter-tug, counter-vote. A rare sense in English is that of ‘across, cross-’, as in counter-dash, counter-strike; counter-bar, -hatch. (These are hyphened, but were formerly often written entire. The main stress is on the verb.)
1687R. L'Estrange Answ. Diss. 22 It would not do Amiss, if the Dissenter should *Counter-Advise his Remembrancer upon Two or Three of these Last Points.
1611Cotgr., Contrefermé, *counter-affirmed, counter-auouched, the contrarie whereof is affirmed, or auouched.
1681Moores Baffled 24 On March 27, 1664, he *counter-ambusht a strong Party of Horse.
1611Florio, Contrabattuta, a *counter⁓beating.
1598Ibid., Contradiuieto, a countermand, or *counterbidding.
1611Ibid., Contraforare, to *counter⁓bore.
1611Cotgr., Contretraversant, *counter-crossing, counter-trauersing.
1849Carlyle Dante's Inf. vii. 72 As does the surge, there above Charybdis, that breaks itself against the surge wherewith it meets; So have the people here to *counter-dance.
1611Cotgr., Contr'elider, to counterhit, counterstrik, *counterdash, countersquize; to breake a stroke, or dash, etc., with a stroake, or dash, etc.
1649Davenant Love & Hon. Wks. (1673) 250, I fear some inlet has been *counter-digg'd Into the Cave.
1596R. L[inche] Diella (1877) 83 Speechlesse they are, eye *counterfixt on eye.
1611Cotgr., Contrepicquer, to returne gird for gird; to giue a nip for a nip. Contrepicqué, *countergirded, counterpricked, counternipped.
1643Herle Answ. Ferne 20 A *counterjudging, and so unjudging judge.
Ibid. 31 A possibly divided and *counterlocking power of deniall.
a1689Reresby Mem. 102 (T.), The gentlemen..of Yorkshire, who had *counter⁓petitioned, and declared their abhorrence of the..petition for a meeting of parliament.
1883T. M. Healy in Pall Mall G. 28 Dec. 2/1 Irishmen..regard their representatives as useful to *counterplan against the devices of the Government.
1611Florio, Contrapiacere, to *counterplease.
1654Gayton Pleas. Notes iii. ix. 127 But Sancho does runne *Counter-posting back.
1859Dickens T. Two Cities ii. i, Instead of being *counterprayed and countermined.
1623Lisle ælfric on O. & N. Test. Pref. 11 We heare daily men of divers opinions (yet all as called thereto) *counterpreaching each other.
a1734North Lives (1808) I. 102 (D.) If either be false and perfidious, the other will be so also; and they *counter-refer to each other. 1653Gauden Hierasp. 429 They fortifie against oblivion..and counter-ruine the underminings of time.
1647Crashaw Poems 1 Stars thou sow'st, whose harvest dares Promise the earth to *countershine Whatever makes Heaven's forehead fine.
1661R. L'Estrange Interest Mistaken 13 It seems to me of high Concern, to *Counter-State that Declaration.
1611Florio, Contra-colpire, to *counter-strike.
a1864Landor Wks. (1868) II. 202 You have sworn many things..some of which were very soon *countersworn.
1567Turberv. Ovid's Epist. 77 b, Beholde the winds, And *counterthwarting blasts.
1872Baker Nile Tribut. ii. 32 After much tugging and *counter-tugging.
1641Ld. Digby Sp. in Rushw. Hist. Coll. iii. (1692) I. 35 How the Lords *Counter-voted the precedency of our Grievances. 1681–6J. Scott Chr. Life I. iii. (T.), The law in our minds being countervoted by the law in our members.
b. From corresponding substantives, as counter-gabion, counter-garrison, counter-query, counter-trench; countermine, -mure, etc.
1611Florio, Contragabbionare, to *countergabbion.
1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. lxii. 34 a, All these flemmynges lay in y⊇ vale of Cassell, in tentes and pauylions, to *counter⁓garison y⊇ french garison.
1653Apol. for Goodwin 3 *Counter-querying and quarrelling himselfe in subscribing them.
1611Cotgr., Contretrancher, to *counter-trench, or fortifie against an enemie entrenched.
II. ns. (and adjs.)
2. With sense ‘(actor or action) against or in opposition’; as in counter-exercise, counter-latration (barking against), counter-player, counter-volition, counter-willing, counter-working. (Stress on the root-word.)
1744Warburton Wks. (1811) XI. 393 Dexterity, in the *counter-exercise of his arms.
1865Carlyle Fredk. Gt. VII. xviii. i. 97 Porcine squealing, answered always by *counter-latration.
1666Spurstowe Spir. Chym. (1668) 141 Have we not twins in our Womb, our *Counter-lustings and our *Counter-willings?
1611Cotgr., Contrejoueur, a *counter-player; an aduersarie, or opponent, in play.
a1859De Quincey War Wks. IV. 265 So weak and so flexible to any stern *countervolition.
3. a. Done, directed, or acting against, in opposition to, as a rejoinder or reply to another thing of the same kind already made or in existence; as in counter-accusation, counter-address, counter-affirmation, counter-agitation, counter-alliance, counter-announcement, counter-answer, counter-appeal, counter-art, counter-association, counter-attack, counter-attestation, counter-averment, counter-avouchment, counter-bid, counter-bidding, counter-challenge, counter-cheer, counter-command, counter-competition, counter-complaint, counter-condemnation, counter-coup, counter-cry, counter-decision, counter-declaration, counter-decree, counter-demand, counter-demonstration, counter-deputation, counter-dogmatism, counter-draught, counter-effort, counter-energy, counter-enthusiasm, counter-exaggeration, counter-excitement, counter-excommunication, counter-explanation, counter-expostulation, counter-fallacy, counter-gabble, counter-gift, counter-guerrilla, counter-imagination, counter-insult, counter-insurgency, counter-interpretation, counter-intrigue, counter-invective, counter-law, counter-legislation, counter-life, counter-machination, counter-manifesto, counter-measure, counter-message, counter-mission, counter-narrative, counter-noise, counter-notice, counter-objection, counter-organization, counter-paradox, counter-petition, counter-play, counter-practice, counter-project, counter-pronunciamento, counter-propaganda, counter-proposal, counter-proposition, counter-protection, counter-quip, counter-raising, counter-shout, counter-siege, counter-sleight, counter-smile, counter-snarl, counter-statement, counter-statute, counter-stratagem, counter-suggestion, counter-sympathy, counter-synod, counter-terror, counter-thought, counter-threat, counter-thrust, counter-treason, counter-trespass, counter-vaunt, counter-vindication, counter-volley, counter-wager. (The stress is on the prefix; in long words there is a secondary stress on the accented syllable of the root-word.)
1917How War came to America (U.S. Committee on Public Information) 11 Quibbles, misrepresentations, and *counter accusations against their enemies abroad. 1949Koestler Promise & Fulf. ii. v. 285 Diplomatic notes with accusations and counter-accusations that read like the Fish⁓wives' Morning Gazette.
1880Burton Reign Q. Anne II. 62 In their *counter⁓address, the Commons found consolation in the prospects of the war.
1611Cotgr., Contreferme, a *counter-affirmation, or *counter-auouchment; an affirmation of that whereof another affirmes the contrarie.
1850McCosh Div. Govt. iv. ii. (1874) 488 The announcement..would ever be met by a *counter announcement.
1581J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 384 Touching the *counteraunswere agaynst the sayd Apology. 1611Florio, Contrarisposta, a counter answere.
1639Fuller Holy War i. xvi. (1647) 24 Art promising her self the victorie, and suddenly meeting *counter-art, which mastered her.
1748Hartley Observ. Man i. iv. 460 Was it not restrained by *Counter-Associations.
1855I. Taylor Restor. Belief (1856) 224 To dispute with him his mission by help of *counter-attestations.
1880Muirhead Gaius iv. §16 note, That the respondent..made a *counter averment of ownership.
1960Farmer & Stockbreeder 26 Jan. 4/1 While price concessions for English malting barley have had to be conceded, farmers and merchants are becoming more obstinate to *counterbids, in view of the firmer trend which is taking place in imported descriptions. 1981Times 3 June 22/6 Rumours persisting for a counterbid for Charles Hill of Bristol saw the shares up 2p to 126p.
1847De Quincey Secret Soc. Wks. VII. 248 note, Not knowing the rate of the hostile biddings [they]..had no guide to regulate their own *counterbiddings.
1909M. B. Saunders Litany Lane i. iii. 27 His own [eyes] flung back a steely *counter-challenge.
1847Grote Greece ii. lii. (1862) IV. 437 Cheer and *counter-cheer. a1893Mod. Newspr., Parl. Rep., The result was received with cheers from the ministerial benches, quickly followed by countercheers from the Opposition at the smallness of the majority.
1623Rowlandson God's Bless. 5 Not even the terrors and *countercommands of the greatest should so interrupt us.
1848Mill Pol. Econ. ii. xii. §1 A *counter⁓competition would commence on the side of capitalists.
1657S. W. Schism Dispach't 9, I have reason to make a *counter-complaint of the Dr. 1792T. Jefferson Writ. (1830) IV. 462, I would not give in my report till I should see Hammond's counter-complaint.
1865Trollope Belton Est. xviii, She should encounter the condemnation of Captain Aylmer..by *counter-condemnation of him and his mother.
1963Time 30 Aug. 20/2 Roman Catholic Diem..opened up the possibilities of coups, *counter-coups, and even civil war.
1879G. Meredith Egoist III. vi. 107 Cries and *counter⁓cries ring out.
1825T. Jefferson Autobiog. Wks. 1859 I. 77 A declaration, and *counter-declaration, were cooked up at Versailles.
a1600Hooker E.P. vii. xi. §9 Their question he repelled with a *counter-demand.
1868G. Duff Pol. Surv. 63 Russia..to make a *counter demonstration to us..launched..a great expedition against Khiva.
1874W. Wallace Hegel's Logic 13 Dogmatism..against which there would be an equal right of *counter-dogmatism.
1611Cotgr., Contr'effort, a *counter effort; or, effort vsed against force.
1849Grote Greece ii. lxii. (1862) V. 389 If liberty be energetically assailed, the *counter-energy necessary for its defence may be found wanting.
1871Morley Voltaire (1886) 67 That..enthusiasm which can only make sure of itself by disparaging the object of a *counter-enthusiasm.
1867Mill Inaug. Addr. 24 The value of Mathematics..has even been insisted on so exclusively as to provoke a *counter-exaggeration.
1816Coleridge Statesm. Man. (1817) 359 A sort of sanative *counter-excitement.
1855Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) II. 340 Excommunication and *counter-excommunication, the validity of which might be questioned by either party.
1806–7J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) vi. xxviii, You cannot hear..one guide for the continual *counter-gabble of the other.
1822–56De Quincey Confess. (1862) 107 In the *counter-gift of the proud post-office was nothing.
1901Westm. Gaz. 27 Nov. 2/2 We ought to meet the Boer guerilla by a *counter-guerilla. 1962Economist 12 May 551/1 A determined counterguerrilla offensive succeeded. Their comments on counterguerrilla are of special topicality. 1964Ann. Reg. 1963 163 The military measures..comprised.. heavy U.S. engagement in counter-guerrilla warfare in South Vietnam throughout the period.
1864Kingsley Rom. & Teut. vii. (1875) 165 He answered by some *counter-insult.
1962Times 8 May 13/7 Psychological warfare and *counter-insurgency techniques cannot be the concern of a few hastily trained officers.
1875Stubbs Const. Hist. III. xviii. 202 Warwick..began a *counter-intrigue.
1611Cotgr., Contr'-invective, a *counter-inuectiue; an answer to an inuectiue.
1862Ellicott Dest. Creature ii. 26 A mysterious and pervasive *counter-law.
1882–3Schaff Encycl. Relig. Knowl. I. 762 To secure *counter-legislation.
1836Thirlwall Greece III. xvii. 39 Through the *counter-machinations of Sparta.
1923Collingwood Roman Britain ii. 37 The Saxon raids increased, but *counter-measures were devised.
1865Merivale Rom. Emp. VIII. lxv. 176 In the *counter-narrative of the Jews even the name of Christian is contemptuously disregarded.
1651Jer. Taylor Serm. for Year i. xiii. 169 To drown the noises of Sinai..with a *counternoise of revelling.
1885Law Rep. 30 Ch. D. 571 The Plaintiff accepted the notice and proceeded to give certain *counter-notices under it.
1879Farrar St. Paul I. 266 The objections..could be met by *counter⁓objections of serious importance.
1887J. F. Hogan Irish in Australia ix. (1888) 175 [They]..formed themselves into a *counter-organisation..and agitated for the perpetuation of the system.
a1674Clarendon Hist. Reb. (J.), Others of an opposite party were appointed to set a *counter-petition on foot.
1878Browning La Saisiaz 15 What might be the Marshal's next move, what Gambetta's *counter-play.
a1745Swift (J.), The obligation..was struck out of the *counterproject by the Dutch. 1848Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 462 Wildman then brought forward a counterproject.
1890G. Saintsbury in New Rev. Feb. 137 The recent *counter-pronunciamento at Rio.
1901G. B. Shaw Cashel Byron's Prof. p. xiv, The vast propaganda of pugnacity in modern fiction..must be met, not by shocked silence, but by *counter-propaganda. 1950S. Potter Our Lang. 114 Propaganda and trustworthy news are dissociated in our minds. We even hear of propaganda and counter-propaganda!
1885Manch. Exam. 10 Jan. 4/7 The French *counter-proposals..will have an exclusively financial character.
1865Grote Plato Pref. (1875) 7/2 note, Proposition and *counter-proposition, the thesis which one impugns, as well as that which one sustains. 1867A. Barry Sir C. Barry vi. 217 Mr. White addressed a counter-proposition to the Treasury.
1817Ld. Castlereagh in Parl. Deb. 1849 We could not adopt such liberal principles..whilst the system of protection and *counter-protection was maintained in other countries.
1641Milton Animadv. Wks. 1738 I. 99 This is a more Edomitish conceit than the former, and must be silenced with a *counter-quip of the same Country.
1611Florio, Contralzata, a *counter raising.
1857Hughes Tom Brown ii. iii, With their shouts and *counter-shouts of encouragement.
1611Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. xi. v. §36 Seauen weekes thus spent, in this *counter siege of the City and Castle.
1611Cotgr., Contreruse, a *counter-sleight; a wile for a wile.
1621Burton Anat. Mel. ii. iii. vii, If he..give but a *countersnarl, there's not a dog dares meddle with him.
1855Motley Dutch Rep. v. iv. (1866) 723 It was soon..followed by a *counter-statement..containing his account of the same matters.
1643Milton Divorce ii. iii. (1851) 68 By his own Antinomie, or *counter-statute.
1688H. Wharton Enthus. Ch. Rome 98 The stratagems and *counter-stratagems of the Devil and the Saints.
1836–7Sir W. Hamilton Metaph. (1877) I. v. 88 It requires..a long and powerful *counter-sympathy in a nation to untwine the ties of custom.
a1677Barrow Pope's Suprem. Wks. 1859 VIII. 60 These Synods..reprobated by Popes in *Counter-Synods.
1879Q. Rev. Apr. 402 Some *counter-terror evidently neutralised a terror so potent.
1858J. Martineau Stud. Chr. 281 The interchange..of thought and *counter⁓thought.
1880Burton Reign Q. Anne III. xiv. 19 The policy..was met by a *counter-threat.
1861A. Beresford-Hope Eng. Cathedr. 19th C. vi. §1. 226 The lighter kinds of stone..may be employed in groining without requiring an excessive *counterthrust.
1611Cotgr., Contretrahison, a *counter⁓treason; treason against treason.
1884H. Spencer in Contemp. Rev. July 40 Among primitive peoples, trespasses are followed by *counter-trespasses.
1851Mayne Reid Scalp Hunt. xliv, Only..a *counter-vaunt, the retaliation of a pang.
1880Muirhead Gaius i. §134 In the event of the father asserting no *counter-vindication.
1876G. Meredith Beauch. Career (1889) 60 Volleys and *countervolleys of fishy Venetian.
1875Poste Gaius iv. §167 He is ordered to pay the sums of the wager and *counterwager in which he was promisor.
b. Also with agent-nouns, as counter-defender, counter-orator, counter-witness; counter-appellant, -claimant.
1609Bp. W. Barlow Answ. Nameless Catholic 229 To all these this *Contre-defender scarse spends three Sections.
1797E. M. Lomax Philanthrope 171 No. 22 ‘Be obscure!’ and set the *counter-orator..at utter defiance.
1660N. Ingelo Bentiv. & Urania ii. Pref., Cicero, whom I have opposed to him as a *counter-witness.
4. Acting in reversal of a former action; as in counter-conquest, counter-reaction, counter-reform, counter-restoration, counter-sale; Counter-reformation, -revolution.
1626T. Ailesbury Passion Serm. 19 Hee falls into an agony, in a *counterconquest of affection.
1859Mill in Edin. Rev. CX. 288 The great European philosophical reaction was to have its *counter-reaction. 1965H. Kahn On Escalation 278 A threat is a specific statement as to what the counterreaction will be.
1871Freeman Hist. Ess. Ser. i. ii. 47 Another stands alone..in passing a *counter-reform bill.
1875Stubbs Const. Hist. III. xviii. 200 The newly founded dynasty might be strengthened against the risks of a *counter-restoration.
1616Budden tr. Aerodius' Disc. Parents Hon. 2 So many *countersales, which made them bond again.
5. Done or acting in reciprocation of or return for another thing of the same kind; reciprocal; as in counter-acquittance, counter-assurance, counter-engagement, counter-equivalent, counter-gage, counter-love, counter-obligation, counter-offer, counter-service, counter-token.
1611Cotgr., Contrequittence, a *counter-acquittance.
1651Hobbes Leviath. i. xvi. 81 The Covenant..is not valid, without his *Counter-assurance.
1880Burton Reign Q. Anne I. i. 48 The *counter-equivalent of the oaths of allegiance taken by the subject.
1611Cotgr., Contregage, a *counter-gage, or counter-pawne.
1635Quarles Embl. v. viii. (1718) 277 Can..thy affection last without the fuel Of *counter-love.
1884Standard 4 Mar. 5/4 Acts of benevolence on the part of the Sultan, without any *counter⁓obligation towards him.
1788T. Jefferson Wks. (1859) II. 483 Denmark is asking the *counter-offer of mediation from this court.
1607Sylvester ii. iv. Trophies 716 One cannot vse th' ayde of the Powrs below Without some Pact of *Counter-services.
1611Florio, Contrasegno, a *counter token, or signe. 1632J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 22 Received of his master..the counter-token for getting againe the horse.
6. Opposite locally:
a. Having an opposite direction, back-; in nouns of action, as counter-flight, counter-flow, counter-migration, counter-pull, counter-radiation, counter-retreat, counter-sway, counter-vibration; also in other nouns, as counter-side, counter-stream, counter-tack, counter-wave, counter-wind, counter-sea, -slope, -tide, in which counter is also written separately as an adj.
c1611Chapman Iliad vii. 190 But he must make no *counterflight.
1870R. M. Ferguson Electr. 55 Faraday's experiment shews that no such *counterflow takes place.
1871Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. xviii. 172 Migrations and *Counter-migrations which have gone on in various ages between Armorica and West Wales.
1857Mrs. Carlyle Lett. II. 341 A *counter-pull..in the direction of order.
1851Herschel Stud. Nat. Phil. ii. vi. 163 Faster than its heat can be restored..by *counter-radiation.
1612Two Noble Kinsmen i. i, A *counter-reflect 'gainst My brother's heart.
1817Colebrooke Algebra 295 The product of half the sides and *countersides is the gross area.
1719De Foe Crusoe i. 220 The Rocks..check'd the Violence of the Stream, and made a kind of *Counter-Stream or Eddy.
1830Southey Lett. (1856) IV. 178 Such a process of reaction as has made M― take precisely the *counter tack.
1787Roy in Phil. Trans. LXXVII. 205 A pointed plummet..has a small degree of *counter-vibration to that of the ball.
1874Tyrwhitt Sketch. Club 201 The water..meets shore, or *counter-wave.
b. Formed at the opposite side; as in counter-cleft, -fissure, -fracture, q.v.
7. Across, crossing, making an angle with; as in counter-haft, counter-tree (= counter-bar); counter-bar, -lath, -lode.
1611Florio, Contramanico, a *counterhaft or handle.
1813W. Beattie Tales 53 (Jam.) The door was slightly girded tee, Wi an auld tow an' *conter-tree.
8. a. Forming the opposite member or constituent of anything that has naturally two opposite parts, as counter-balance, -foil, -part, -poise, -stock, -tally, etc.; or constituting a second thing of the same kind standing opposite, parallel to, or side by side with the original, as counter-branch, counter-pillar, counter-earth; often with notions of balancing, checking, sustaining thrust, or of mutual adaptation, correspondence, etc.; as in counter-cipher, -copy, -die, -mark, -seal, -type.
1581Mulcaster Positions xxxix. (1887) 183 Yong maidens..be *counter-braunches to vs in the kinde of mortall and reasonable creatures.
1717Berkeley Tour in Italy §14 Pillars of jasper, with *counter-pillars of alabaster.
b. Like It. contra-, F. contre-, often denoting that which is the counterpart of a thing or person, and hence the duplicate or parallel, the copy or substitute, or that which is the complementary, accessary, or subservient ‘second’ of another, = rear-, sub-; as in counter-base, counter-border, counter-pond, etc.; counter-admiral, -dike, -drain, -walk, -warden [cf. contre-master].
1611Cotgr., Contrebase, a *counterbase; the lowest part of a Basis, or the part, or peece, whereon it stands.
1712J. James tr. Le Blond's Gardening 26 Pieces of Parterre..with *Counter-Borders.
1611Cotgr., Contr'estang, a Poole-damme; a back-poole, or *counter-pond; a..hollow ground, whereinto the water of a Pond, thats to be fished, is let.
9. Having the contrary tendency, nature, action, or position; running counter (to something else); opposing, opposite, contrary; as in counter-advantage, counter-cause, counter-church, counter-consideration, counter-craft, counter-difficulty, counter-discipline, counter-doctrine, counter-establishment, counter-fact, counter-formula, counter-hypothesis, counter-idea, counter-ideal, counter-interest, counter-magic, counter-motive, counter-necromancy, counter-picture, counter-plan, counter-presumption, counter-principle, counter-process, counter-project, counter-reason, counter-religion, counter-society, counter-technicality, counter-tendency, counter-theory, counter-translation, counter-truth, counter-warmth. (The stress is usually equal, as in adjective + substantive, and the prefix tends to be written separately: see counter a.)
1885Manch. Exam. 24 Mar. 4/7 No *counter-advantages..would induce the Committee to pass the bill if they thought the bar would be damaged.
1684T. Burnet Th. Earth I. 203 Unless there be some *counter-causes that hinder this general rule of nature from taking place.
1928Belloc Convers. with Angel xi. 81 If Calvin had not written his book there would have been no organised *counter-Church in France. 1956A. Toynbee Hist. Approach Relig. I. iv. 54 Opposing Christianity by staging an artificial pagan counter-church.
1848Mill Pol. Econ. I. i. viii. 152 There are *counter-considerations which are overlooked. 1905Daily Chron. 9 June 4/3 Bearing these counter-considerations in mind, let us inquire what are the possible or probable conditions of peace.
1603Florio Montaigne i. xxv. (1632) 83 Let him borrow this pleasant *counter-craft of Aristippus.
1856Dove Logic Chr. Faith i. ii. 69 A pious..endeavour to obviate a *counter-difficulty.
1678Lively Orac. viii. §46. 319 That has set up a *counter-discipline to that of the Gospel.
1865M. Arnold Ess. Crit. ix. (1875) 388 The *counter-doctrine to the popular doctrine.
1797Haighton in Phil. Trans. LXXXVII. 170 Contrasting these solitary observations with a numerous train of *counterfacts.
1871Morley Voltaire (1886) 35 The system to which this was the powerful *counter-formula.
1865Grote Plato I. ii. 103 The *counter-hypothesis of the discontinuous many.
1882H. S. Holland Logic & Life (1885) 261, I cannot but single out that one supreme expression of this *counter-ideal.
1710Norris Chr. Prud. i. 37 He has no *Counter-interest to deny..or Passion to countermand.
1952Gerth & Martindale tr. Weber's Anc. Judaism iv. xi. 273 The opposition party lay in wait to destroy them..by *counter⁓magic.
1836Mill in Lond. & Westm. Rev. Oct. 12 That motive..is checked by the two perpetual *counter-motives above adverted to.
a1713Shaftesbury Advice to Author (Jod.), This is that..sort of *counternecromancy which instead of ghastliness and horror inspires only what is gentle and humane.
1882H. S. Holland Logic & Life (1885) 261 There are *counter-pictures given us to that of the leaven.
1788T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) II. 519 The *counterplan which they set on foot.
1867G. M. Hopkins Let. 31 Dec. (1956) 48, I hope you will weigh these *counter-presumptions. 1897W. James Will to Believe 318 It is a miserable thing for a question of truth to be confined to mere presumption and counter-presumption.
1878Morley Diderot I. 5 It was the great *counter-principle to asceticism.
1843Mill Logic II. iv. iv. 261 A *counter-process of losing truths already possessed, is also constantly going on.
1865Grote Plato Pref. (1875) 7 Reasoners who..recognise no refutation except from the *counter-reason of others.
1822T. Jefferson Writ. (1830) IV. 349 Usurpers of the Christian name, teaching a *counter-religion.
1955‘C. H. Rolph’ Women of Streets x. 129 One would expect the emergence of such leaders in a *counter-society such as this. 1959Encounter May 29/2 The society formed by prostitutes and their associates..has a fairly permanent structure and composition; its stability depends on its nature as a counter-society.
1880Burton Reign Q. Anne II. viii. 12 The common lawyer could have felt respect for *counter-technicalities.
1851Thackeray Eng. Hum. v. (1858) 214 This *countertranslation, suddenly advertised and so long written.
1879Farrar St. Paul I. 547 He had demonstrated the errors of his listeners mainly by contrasting them with the *counter⁓truths which it was his mission to announce.
1763Brit. Mag. IV. 221 Nothing is more likely to recover the mind from this false attraction, than the *counter-warmth of impartial debate.
10. In prepositional combination with an object (expressed, or implied in an adj.): cf. anti- II, III, contra- 2.
a. Against, contrary to, anti-; as counter-sparing; counter-fashion a., against the fashion; counter-natural a., contrary to nature; often with the sense of ‘specific against, antidote to’, as in counter-antidote, counter-pest; counter-bane, etc.
b. Opposed to the true or genuine, false, counterfeit, pseudo-, anti-; as counter-apostle, counter-Christ, counter-Jesus, counter-Kaiser, counter-prophet, counter-taste, etc.
1611Cotgr., Contr'antidote, a remedie, or poison against a preseruatiue; a *counterantidote.
1657S. W. Schism Dispach't 220 Now that his *counter-Apostle meets him in the same city.
1655Trapp Marrow Gd. Auth. (1868) 830/2 An Anti-christ or *counter-Christ, pretending to be instead of Christ, but fighting against Christ.
1619W. Sclater Exp. 1 Thess. (1630) 91 Iesuites..haue erected their Head to be a Counter-Christ; so thousands of others, to be *Counter-Iesuses.
1886Blackie in 19th Cent. Apr. 532 Pillaging the camp of an audacious *Counter-Kaiser.
1686W. de Britaine Hum. Prud. vi. 29 It will be your Wisdom to carry a *Counterpest or Antidote.
1588J. Harvey Disc. Probl. conc. Proph. 70 Hath not every vocation..yeelded some such *counter-prophets and penny-fathers.
1611Florio, Contralesina, a *counter sparing, a lauishe spender, or expence.
a1763Shenstone Wks. II. 320 (Jod.) There is a kind of *countertaste..which maintains a sort of rivalship with the true, and may be expressed by the name concetto.
11. Mutually opposed, against each other, reciprocal: in several of the preceding senses:
a. with nouns expressing reciprocal action, as counter-change, reciprocal exchange, counter-struggle, struggle against each other; so counter-conquest, counter-battery, -scuffle, etc.;
b. with plurals only, as counter-curses, curses against each other, counter smiles, smiles to each other; so counter-declarations, counter-doctrines, counter-ferments, counter-forces, counter-opponents, counter-principles, counter-theories, etc.
1605Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iii. i. 484 Where man's deep zeal and God's dear favour strove For *Counter conquest in officious love.
1659Gauden Tears of Ch. 407 Cruell *counter-curses and angry Anathema's against each other.
1845H. Rogers Ess. I. iii. 135 To reconcile inconsistencies and harmonise *counter-declarations.
1735–8Bolingbroke On Parties 7 Force..may support a Rivalship and erect even *Counter-Establishments.
1711Addison Spect. No. 195 ⁋2 Unnatural Motions and *Counterferments..in the Body.
1861Sat. Rev. XI. 159/1 Take these *counter hypotheses, and see which of the two, etc.
a1774Goldsm. tr. Scarron's Com. Romance (1775) II. 71 To think that there would one day be a *counter marriage between us.
1657S. W. Schism Dispach't 74 We should be mutually *counter-opponents and counter-defendants.
1851G. S. Faber Many Mansions (1862) 291 The two are clearly *counter-parallels.
1836–7Sir W. Hamilton Metaph. (1877) I. vi. 101 These two *counter-processes of analysis and synthesis.
1621Burton Anat. Mel. iii. ii. ii. iii, Those *countersmiles are the dumb shows and prognostics of greater matters.
1709Tatler No. 43 ⁋7 The Tangential and Centripetal Forces, by their *counter-struggle, make the Celestial Bodies describe an exact Ellipsis.
1885Tennyson Anc. Sage, No ill, no good! such *counter-terms, my son, Are border-races, holding each its own By endless war.
1836–7Sir W. Hamilton Metaph. xliii. (1870) II. 457 The *counter-theories of Plato and Aristotle.
12. Music. = contra- 4: see counterpoint; as in counter-base = contra-bass, counter-treble, etc. Cf. counter n.7, v.2
1598Florio, Contralto, a counter treble in musicke. 1611― Contrasourano, a counter treble.
13. Mil. Applied to works erected to act against the works of the enemy; as in counter-breastwork (Bailey folio), counter-building, counter-engine, counter-gabion, counter-mount, counter-sconce, counter-trench; counter-approach, etc.
1614Raleigh Hist. World ii. 553 The besieged also raised *Counter-buildings.
1641Evelyn Diary (1871) 33 The workes and especially the *Countercamp are curiously hedg'd with quick.
1678tr. Gaya's Art of War i. 109 Of *Counter-Engines. To hinder Assaults and Storms.
1611Florio, Contragabbione, a *countergabbion.
Ibid., Contraforte, a counter fort or *counterskonce.
1602Daniel Philotas iii. ii, And built her *Counter-mounts upon that side.
1727–51Chambers Cycl., *Counter-trench, a trench made against the besiegers.
14. Heraldry. (adjs.)
a. Turned in the contrary direction, or (of two figures) in contrary directions, as counter-couchant, counter-courant, counter-embowed, counter-naiant, counter-rampant, counter-reflected, counter-statant (cf. couchant, etc.), counter-passant, -salient, -trippant.
b. On the two opposite sides, as counter-indented, counter-nebulé, counter-pendent, counter-raguled or counter-raguly, etc.; counter-embattled, -fleury.
c. Having the tinctures reversed, as counter-ermine.
d. See quot. 1727, and cf. counter-changed, -coloured, -compony.
1727–51Chambers Cycl. s.v. Contre-bend, When there are two ordinaries of the same nature opposite to each other, so as colour be opposed to metal, and metal to colour..the coat is said to be contre- or counter-paled, counter-bended, counter-fessed, counter-componed, or counter-barred.
1761Brit. Mag. II. 532 Two arms *counter embowed, and vested, gules. 1882Cussans Her. vi. (ed. 3) 95 Its [the Dolphin's] usual position is Embowed ..When moving towards the sinister side, it is said to be Counter-embowed.
1864Boutell Heraldry Hist. & Pop. xix. (ed. 3) 311 Within a bordure *counterindented or and gu.
1830Robson Brit. Herald III. Gloss., *Counter-nebulée, borne nebulée on both edges. *Counter-pendant, hanging on each side. *Counter-reflected, turned contrary ways from each other.
1882Cussans Her. iv. 64 When a Fess, Bend, or Chevron, is bounded on each side by the lines embattled, potent, or *ragulé, it must be blazoned as Embattled-counter-embattled, or Potent-counter-potent, as the case may be.
1864Boutell Heraldry Hist. & Pop. xxviii. §2 (ed. 3) 437 Two lions *counter-rampant. |