| 释义 |
▪ I. countersign, n.|ˈkaʊntəsaɪn|
[a. OF. contresigne, ad. It. contrasegno ‘a counter token or signe’ (Florio): cf. counter- 5.]
1. A sign or signal used in reply to another sign; spec. a private signal, usually a word, given or to be given to a soldier on guard by any one entitled to pass; a watchword, pass-word.
1598Barret Theor. Warres iv. ii. 106 He ought to have a different countersigne, that when he returnes, he may be knowne thereby. 1670Cotton Espernon i. iv. 149 If it had been thought of, to have answer'd her Signal by the usual countersign [the Gally] had infallibly been taken. 1799Sheridan Pizarro v. i, We are near our outposts, and the word we heard just now was the countersign. 1827Hardman Waterloo 6 ‘Advance, patrole, and give the Countersign to me’. ‘The Countersign is London’. 1847Infantry Man. (1854) 103 When a sentry is posted, the Countersign only is given him. 1856R. A. Vaughan Mystics (1860) I. 144 We who sigh for reform..have our secret communications..our signs and counter-signs.
2. A special sign or mark put on something for the purpose of authentication, identification, or reference; = countermark.
1591Garrard Art Warre 67 It is necessary his ensigne have certain special countersignes and markes. 1662Evelyn Chalcogr. B v, Baccio Baldini his works, and countersign. 1842Manning Serm. (1848) I. vii. 91 The character which was upon them was a legible countersign of their claim to be His servants.
†3. A token in return. Obs.
1628Sir R. Le Grys tr. Barclay's Argenis 156 Radirobanes..King of Sardinia..doth send this countersigne of contracted hospitality to thee Meleander, King of Sicily.
▪ II. countersign, v.|ˌkaʊntəˈsaɪn|
[ad. F. contresigner (1415 in Hatzfeld), in It. contrasegnare ‘to countermarke’ (Florio): cf. counter- 1.]
1. trans. To sign (a document) opposite to, alongside of, or in addition to, another signature; to add one's signature to (a document already signed by another) for authentication or confirmation.
[1611Cotgr. has contresigner to subsigne.] 1696Phillips, Countersign, to sign a Patent or Order of a Superior, in quality of a Secretary, to render it more Authentic. a1714in Somers Tracts II. 99 He..had a Warrant granted him, and countersigned by the Secretary at War. 1806Gregory Dict. Arts. & Sc. I. 446 Charters are signed by the king, and countersigned by a secretary of state or lord chancellor. 1882C. Pebody Eng. Journalism viii. 62 He brought an action against the Secretary of State who had countersigned the warrant for his arrest.
b. fig. To confirm, sanction, ratify.
1840De Quincey Style iii. Wks. 1862 X. 232 What he founded upon a review of two nations and two literatures we may now countersign by an experience of eight or nine. 1871Macduff Mem. Patmos xviii. 241 ‘Blessed are the dead!’ How the death-chamber belies the utterance—refuses to countersign the strange benediction! 1873F. Hall Mod. Eng. v. 153 note, As to dictionaries, the Dean [Swift] writes of them, as if he supposed their contents were countersigned beyond the stars.
†2. To mark with a particular sign for authentication, identification, or reference. Obs.
1662Evelyn Chalcogr. 37 Martine of Antwerp, whose works..were usually countersigned with M. 1665J. Webb Stone-Heng (1725) 8 If Mr. Camden hath not countersign'd them, then is his Draught imperfect. Ibid. 16 Two Stones countersigned by me with the Letters I I. |