countersensen.
a. An interpretation or meaning opposed to the true sense.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > misinterpretation > [noun] > instance of > opposite in meaning
countersense1645
the mind > language > linguistics > semantics > condition of being opposite in meaning > [noun] > antonym
countersense1645
antonym1857
paranym1976
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > interpretation > [noun] > opposed to sense
countersense1645
1645 J. Milton Tetrachordon 33 Heerin the counter sense of our Divines, to me..seems admirable; who teach that God gave this as a mercifull Law, not for man whom he heer names..but for the wife whom hee names not.
1655 J. Howell 4th Vol. Familiar Lett. xix. 51 Ther are som words now in French which are turn'd to a countersense, as we use the Dutch word crank in English to be well dispos'd, which in the Original signifieth to be sick.
1789 P. Smyth tr. H. Aldrich Archit. (1818) 46 Though since reformed by a modern artist..too much in countersense.
b. The co-existence of opposite senses in the same word.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > semantics > condition of being opposite in meaning > [noun] > co-existence of opposite senses in same word
countersense1884
1884 C. Abel in Contemp. Rev. Apr. 500 The disappearance of countersense..admits of being lexicographically traced.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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n.1645