Chapter 88

Counter approach (Fort.), a trench or work pushed forward from defensive works to meet the approaches of besiegers. See Approach. -- Counter bond (Law), in old practice, a bond to secure one who has given bond for another. -- Counter brace. See Counter brace, in Vocabulary. -- Counter deed (Law), a secret writing which destroys, invalidates, or alters, a public deed. -- Counter distinction, contradistinction. [Obs.] -- Counter drain, a drain at the foot of the embankment of a canal or watercourse, for carrying off the water that may soak through. -- Counter extension (Surg.), the fixation of the upper part of a limb, while extension is practiced on the lower part, as in cases of luxation or fracture. -- Counter fissure (Surg.) Same as Contrafissure. -- Counter indication. (Med.) Same as Contraindication. -- Counter irritant (Med.), an irritant to produce a blister, a pustular eruption, or other irritation in some part of the body, in order to relieve an existing irritation in some other part. "Counter irritants are of as great use in moral as in physical diseases." Macaulay. -- Counter irritation (Med.), the act or the result of applying a counter irritant. -- Counter opening, an aperture or vent on the opposite side, or in a different place. -Counter parole (Mil.), a word in addition to the password, given in time of alarm as a signal. -- Counter plea (Law), a replication to a plea. Cowell. -- Counter pressure, force or pressure that acts in a contrary direction to some other opposing pressure. -- Counter project, a project, scheme, or proposal brought forward in opposition to another, as in the negotiation of a treaty. Swift. -- Counter proof, in engraving, a print taken off from another just printed, which, by being passed through the press, gives a copy in reverse, and of course in the same position as that of plate from which the first was printed, the object being to enable the engraver to inspect the state of the plate. -- Counter revolution, a revolution opposed to a former one, and restoring a former state of things. -- Counter revolutionist, one engaged in, or befriending, a counter revolution. -- Counter round (Mil.), a body of officers whose duty it is to visit and inspect the rounds and sentinels. -- Counter sea (Naut.), a sea running in an opposite direction from the wind. -- Counter sense, opposite meaning. -- Counter signal, a signal to answer or correspond to another. -- Counter signature, the name of a secretary or other officer countersigned to a writing. Tooke. -- Counter slope, an overhanging slope; as, a wall with a counter slope. Mahan. -- Counter statement, a statement made in opposition to, or denial of, another statement. -- Counter surety, a counter bond, or a surety to secure one who has given security. -- Counter tally, a tally corresponding to another. -- Counter tide, contrary tide.

Coun"ter, n. [See Counter, adv., Contra.] 1. (Naut.) The after part of a vessel's body, from the water line to the stern, -- below and somewhat forward of the stern proper.

2. (Mus.) Same as Contra. Formerly used to designate any under part which served for contrast to a principal part, but now used as equivalent to counter tenor.

3. (Far.) The breast, or that part of a horse between the shoulders and under the neck.

4. The back leather or heel part of a boot.

Coun"ter (koun"t?r), n. An encounter. [Obs.]

With kindly counter under mimic shade. Spenser.

Coun"ter, v. i. (Boxing) To return a blow while receiving one, as in boxing.

His left hand countered provokingly. C. Kingsley.

Coun`ter*act" (koun`t?r-?kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counteracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Counteracting.] To act in opposition to; to hinder, defeat, or frustrate, by contrary agency or influence; as, to counteract the effect of medicines; to counteract good advice.

Coun`ter*ac"tion (koun`t?r-?k"sh?n), n. Action in opposition; hindrance resistance.

[They] do not . . . overcome the counteraction of a false principle or of stubborn partiality. Johnson.

Coun`ter*act"ive (-?kt"?v), a. Tending to counteract.

Coun`ter*act"ive, n. One who, or that which, counteracts.

Coun`ter*act"ive*ly, adv. By counteraction.

Coun`ter*bal"ance (-b?l"ans), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterbalanced (-anst); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterbalancing.] To oppose with an equal weight or power; to counteract the power or effect of; to countervail; to equiponderate; to balance.

The remaining air was not able to counterbalance the mercurial cylinder. Boyle.

The study of mind is necessary to counterbalance and correct the influence of the study of nature. Sir W. Hamilton.

Coun"ter*bal`ance (koun"t?r-b?l`ans), n. A weight, power, or agency, acting against or balancing another; as: (a) A mass of metal in one side of a driving wheel or fly wheel, to balance the weight of a crank pin, etc., on the opposite side of the wheel. (b) A counterpoise to balance the weight of anything, as of a drawbridge or a scale beam.

Money is the counterbalance to all other things purchasable by it. Locke.

Coun"ter*bore` (-b?r`), n. 1. A flat-bottomed cylindrical enlargement of the mouth of a hole, usually of slight depth, as for receiving a cylindrical screw head.

2. A kind of pin drill with the cutting edge or edges normal to the axis; -- used for enlarging a hole, or for forming a flat-bottomed recess at its mouth.

Coun`ter*bore" (koun`t?r-b?r"), v. t. To form a counterbore in, by boring, turning, or drilling; to enlarge, as a hole, by means of a counterbore.

Coun"ter brace` (br?s`). 1. (Naut.) The brace of the fore-topsail on the leeward side of a vessel.

2. (Engin.) A brace, in a framed structure, which resists a strain of a character opposite to that which a main brace is designed to receive.

&fist; In a quadrilateral system of bracing, the main brace is usually in the direction of one diagonal, and the counter brace in the direction of the other. Strains in counter braces are occasioned by the live load only, as, in a roof, by the wind, or, in a bridge, by a moving train.

Coun"ter*brace`, v. t. 1. (Naut.) To brace in opposite directions; as, to counterbrace the yards, i. e., to brace the head yards one way and the after yards another.

2. (Engin.) To brace in such a way that opposite strains are resisted; to apply counter braces to.

Coun`ter*buff" (koun`t?r-b?f"), v. t. To strike or drive back or in an opposite direction; to stop by a blow or impulse in front. Dryden.

Coun"ter*buff` (koun"t?r-b?f`), n. A blow in an opposite direction; a stroke that stops motion or cause a recoil.

Coun"ter*cast` (koun"t?r-k?st`), n. A trick; a delusive contrivance. [Obs.] Spenser.

Coun"ter*cast`er (-?r), n. A caster of accounts; a reckoner; a bookkeeper; -- used contemptuously.

Coun`ter*change" (koun`t&etilde;r*chānj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterchanged (-ch?njd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterchanging.] 1. To give and receive; to cause to change places; to exchange.

2. To checker; to diversify, as in heraldic counterchanging. See Counterchaged, a., 2.

Witch-elms, that counterchange the floor Of this flat lawn with dusk and bright. Tennyson.

Coun"ter*change` (koun"t&etilde;r*chānj`), n. Exchange; reciprocation.

Coun`ter*changed" (-ch?njd"), a. 1. Exchanged.

2. (Her.) Having the tinctures exchanged mutually; thus, if the field is divided palewise, or and azure, and cross is borne counterchanged, that part of the cross which comes on the azure side will be or, and that on the or side will be azure.

Coun"ter*charge` (koun"t?r-ch?rj`), n. An opposing charge.

Coun`ter*charm" (koun`t?r-ch?rm"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countercharmed (-ch?rmd`); p. pr. & vb. n. Countercharming.] To destroy the effect of a charm upon.

Coun"ter*charm` (koun"t?r-ch?rm`), n. That which has the power of destroying the effect of a charm.

Coun`ter*check" (koun`t?r-ch?k"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterchecked (-ch?ckt"); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterchecking.] To oppose or check by some obstacle; to check by a return check.

Coun"ter*check` (koun"t?r-ch?k`), n. 1. A check; a stop; a rebuke, or censure to check a reprover.

2. Any force or device designed to restrain another restraining force; a check upon a check.

The system of checks and counterchecks. J. H. Newton.

Coun"ter*claim` (-klām`), n. (Law) A claim made by a person as an offset to a claim made on him.

Coun"ter-com*po`ny (-k&obreve;m*pō`n&ybreve;), a. (Her.) See Compony.

Coun"ter-couch`ant (koun"t&etilde;r*kouch"ant), a. (Her.) Lying down, with their heads in opposite directions; -- said of animals borne in a coat of arms.

Coun"ter-cou*rant" (-k??-r?nt"), a. (Her.) Running in opposite directions; -- said of animals borne in a coast of arms.

Coun"ter*cur`rent (koun"t?r-k?r`-rent), a. Running in an opposite direction.

Coun"ter*cur`rent, n. A current running in an opposite direction to the main current.

Coun`ter*draw" (koun`t&etilde;r*dr&add;"), v. t. [imp. Counterdrew (- dr&udd;"); p. p. Counterdrawn (-dr?n"); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterdrawing.] To copy, as a design or painting, by tracing with a pencil on oiled paper, or other transparent substance.

Coun"ter*fai"sance (koun"t?r-f?"zans), n. See Counterfesance. [Obs.]

Coun"ter*feit (koun"t?r-f?t), a. [F. contrefait, p. p. of contrefaire to counterfeit; contre (L. contra) + faire to make, fr. L. facere. See Counter, adv., and Fact.]

1. Representing by imitation or likeness; having a resemblance to something else; portrayed.

Look here upon this picture, and on this- The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. Shak.

2. Fabricated in imitation of something else, with a view to defraud by passing the false copy for genuine or original; as, counterfeit antiques; counterfeit coin. "No counterfeit gem." Robinson (More's Utopia).

3. Assuming the appearance of something; false; spurious; deceitful; hypocritical; as, a counterfeit philanthropist. "An arrant counterfeit rascal." Shak.

Syn. -- Forged; fictitious; spurious; false.

Coun"ter*feit, n. 1. That which resembles or is like another thing; a likeness; a portrait; a counterpart.

Thou drawest a counterfeit Best in all Athens. Shak.

Even Nature's self envied the same, And grudged to see the counterfeit should shame The thing itself. Spenser.

2. That which is made in imitation of something, with a view to deceive by passing the false for the true; as, the bank note was a counterfeit.

Never call a true piece of gold a counterfeit. Shak.

Some of these counterfeits are fabricated with such exquisite taste and skill, that it is the achievement of criticism to distinguish them from originals. Macaulay.

3. One who pretends to be what he is not; one who personates another; an impostor; a cheat.

I fear thou art another counterfeit; And yet, in faith, thou bear'st thee like a king. Shak.

Coun"ter*feit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterfeited; p. pr. & vb. n. Counterfeiting.] 1. To imitate, or put on a semblance of; to mimic; as, to counterfeit the voice of another person.

Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee At all his jokes, for many a joke had he. Goldsmith.

2. To imitate with a view to deceiving, by passing the copy for that which is original or genuine; to forge; as, to counterfeit the signature of another, coins, notes, etc.

Coun"ter*feit, v. i. 1. To carry on a deception; to dissemble; to feign; to pretend.

The knave counterfeits well; a good knave. Shak.

2. To make counterfeits.

Coun"ter*feit`er (-f?t`?r), n. 1. One who counterfeits; one who copies or imitates; especially, one who copies or forges bank notes or coin; a forger.

The coin which was corrupted by counterfeiters. Camden.

2. One who assumes a false appearance or semblance; one who makes false pretenses.

Counterfeiters of devotion. Sherwood.

Coun"ter*feit`ly, adv. By forgery; falsely.

Coun"ter*fe`sance (-f?"zans), n. [OF. contrefaisance, fr. contrefaire. See Counterfeit, a.] The act of forging; forgery. [Obs.] [Written also counterfaisance.]

Coun"ter*fleu`ry (koun"t?r-fl?`r?), a. [F. contrefleuri.] (Her.) Counterflory.

Coun"ter*flo`ry (-fl?`r?), a. [See Counterfleury.] (Her.) Adorned with flowers (usually fleurs-de-lis) so divided that the tops appear on one side and the bottoms on the others; -- said of any ordinary.

Coun"ter*foil` (-foil), n. [Counter- + foil a leaf.]

1. That part of a tally, formerly in the exchequer, which was kept by an officer in that court, the other, called the stock, being delivered to the person who had lent the king money on the account; -- called also counterstock. [Eng.]

2. The part of a writing (as the stub of a bank check) in which are noted the main particulars contained in the corresponding part, which has been issued.

Coun"ter*force` (-f?rs`), n. An opposing force.

Coun"ter*fort` (-f?rt`), n. 1. (Fort.) A kind of buttress of masonry to strengthen a revetment wall.

2. A spur or projection of a mountain. Imp. Dict.

Coun"ter*gage` (-gāj`), n. (Carp.) An adjustable gage, with double points for transferring measurements from one timber to another, as the breadth of a mortise to the place where the tenon is to be made. Knight.

Coun"ter*guard` (koun"t&etilde;r*gńrd`), n. (Fort.) A low outwork before a bastion or ravelin, consisting of two lines of rampart parallel to the faces of the bastion, and protecting them from a breaching fire.

Coun"ter*ir`ri*tant (-?r"r?-tant), n., Coun"ter*ir`ri*ta"tion, n. See Counter irritant, etc., under Counter, a.

Coun"ter*ir"ri*tate (koun"t&etilde;r-?r"r?-t?t), v. t. (Med.) To produce counter irritation in; to treat with one morbid process for the purpose of curing another.

Coun"ter*jump`er (koun"t&etilde;r-j?mp`?r), n. A salesman in a shop; a shopman; -- used contemptuously. [Slang]

Coun"ter*man (koun"t&etilde;r*man), n.; pl. Countermen (- men). A man who attends at the counter of a shop to sell goods. [Eng.]

Coun`ter*mand" (koun`t&etilde;r*m&adot;nd"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countermanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Countermanding.] [F. contremander; contre (L. contra) + mander to command, fr. L. mandare. Cf. Mandate.] 1. To revoke (a former command); to cancel or rescind by giving an order contrary to one previously given; as, to countermand an order for goods.

2. To prohibit; to forbid. [Obs.]

Avicen countermands letting blood in choleric bodies. Harvey.

3. To oppose; to revoke the command of.

For us to alter anything, is to lift ourselves against God; and, as it were, to countermand him. Hooker.

Coun"ter*mand (koun"t&etilde;r*m&adot;nd), n. A contrary order; revocation of a former order or command.

Have you no countermand for Claudio yet, But he must die to-morrow? Shak.

Coun`ter*mand"a*ble (-m?nd"?-b'l), a. Capable of being countermanded; revocable. Bacon.

Coun`ter*march" (koun`t?r-m?rch"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Countermarched (-m?rcht"); p. pr. & vb. n. Countermarching.] (Mil.) To march back, or to march in reversed order.

The two armies marched and countermarched, drew near and receded. Macaulay.

Coun"ter*march` (koun"t?r-m?rch`), n. 1. A marching back; retrocession.

2. (Mil.) An evolution by which a body of troops change front or reverse the direction of march while retaining the same men in the front rank; also, a movement by which the rear rank becomes the front one, either with or without changing the right to the left.

3. A change of measures; alteration of conduct.

Such countermarches and retractions as we do not willingly impute to wisdom. T. Burnet.

Coun"ter*mark` (-m?rk`), n. 1. A mark or token added to those already existing, in order to afford security or proof; as, an additional or special mark put upon a package of goods belonging to several persons, that it may not be opened except in the presence of all; a mark added to that of an artificer of gold or silver work by the Goldsmiths' Company of London, to attest the standard quality of the gold or silver; a mark added to an ancient coin or medal, to show either its change of value or that it was taken from an enemy.

2. (Far.) An artificial cavity made in the teeth of horses that have outgrown their natural mark, to disguise their age.

Coun`ter*mark" (koun`t&etilde;r*mńrk"), v. t. To apply a countermark to; as, to countermark silverware; to countermark a horse's teeth.

Coun"ter*mine` (koun"t&etilde;r*mīn`), n. [Counter- + mine underground gallery: cf. F. contermine.] 1. (Mil.) An underground gallery excavated to intercept and destroy the mining of an enemy.

2. A stratagem or plot by which another sratagem or project is defeated.

Thinking himself contemned, knowing no countermine against contempt but terror. Sir P. Sidney.

Coun`ter*mine" (koun`t&etilde;r*mīn"), v. t. [Cf. F. contreminer.] [imp. & p. p. Countermined; p. pr. & vb. n. Countermining.] 1. (Mil.) To oppose by means of a countermine; to intercept with a countermine.

2. To frustrate or counteract by secret measures.

Coun`ter*mine", v. i. To make a countermine or counterplot; to plot secretly.

'Tis hard for man to countermine with God. Chapman.

Coun`ter*move" (koun`t?r-m??v"), v. t. & i. To move in a contrary direction to.

{ Coun"ter*move` (-m??v`), n. Coun"ter*move`ment (-ment). } A movement in opposition to another.

Coun"ter*mure` (-m?r`), n. [Counter- + mure: cf. F. contremur.] (Fort.) A wall raised behind another, to supply its place when breached or destroyed. [R.] Cf. Contramure. Knolles.

Coun`ter*mure" (koun`t?r-m?r"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countermured (-m?rd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Countermuring.] [Cf. F. contremurer.] To fortify with a wall behind another wall. [R.] Kyd.

Coun"ter*nat`u*ral (koun"t?r-n?t`?-ral; 135), a. Contrary to nature. [R.] Harvey.

Coun"ter-pa`ly (-p?`l?), a. [F. contre-palÚ.] (Her.) Paly, and then divided fesswise, so that each vertical piece is cut into two, having the colors used alternately or counterchanged. Thus the escutcheon in the illustration may also be blazoned paly of six per fess counterchanged argent and azure.

Coun"ter*pane` (koun"t?r-p?n`), n. [See Counterpoint, corrupted into counterpane, from the employment of pane-shaped figures in these coverlets. ] A coverlet for a bed, -- originally stitched or woven in squares or figures.

On which a tissue counterpane was cast. Drayton.

Coun"ter*pane`, n. [OF. contrepan a pledge, security; contre + pan a skirt, also, a pawn or gage, F. pan a skirt. See Pane, and cf. Pawn.] (O. Law) A duplicate part or copy of an indenture, deed, etc., corresponding with the original; -- now called counterpart.

Read, scribe; give me the counterpane. B. Jonson.

Coun"ter*part` (koun"t?r-p?rt`), n. 1. A part corresponding to another part; anything which answers, or corresponds, to another; a copy; a duplicate; a facsimile.

In same things the laws of Normandy agreed with the laws of England, so that they seem to be, as it were, copies or counterparts one of another. Sir M. Hale.

2. (Law) One of two corresponding copies of an instrument; a duplicate.

3. A person who closely resembles another.

4. A thing may be applied to another thing so as to fit perfectly, as a seal to its impression; hence, a thing which is adapted to another thing, or which supplements it; that which serves to complete or complement anything; hence, a person or thing having qualities lacking in another; an opposite.

O counterpart Of our soft sex, well are you made our lords. Dryden.

Coun"ter*pas`sant (-p?s"sant), a. [Counter- + passant: cf. F. contrepassant.] (Her.) Passant in opposite directions; -- said of two animals.

Coun`ter*plead" (koun`t?r-pl?d"), v. t. To plead the contrary of; to plead against; to deny.

Coun`ter*plot" (koun`t?r-pl?t"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterplotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Counterplotting.] To oppose, as another plot, by plotting; to attempt to frustrate, as a stratagem, by stratagem.

Every wile had proved abortive, every plot had been counterplotted. De Quinsey.

Coun"ter*plot` (koun"t?r-pl?t`), n. A plot or artifice opposed to another. L'Estrange.

Coun"ter*point` (koun"t?r-point`), n. [Counter- + point.] An opposite point [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.

Coun"ter*point`, n. [F. contrepoint; cf. It. contrappunto. Cf. Contrapuntal.] (Mus.) (a) The setting of note against note in harmony; the adding of one or more parts to a given canto fermo or melody. (b) The art of polyphony, or composite melody, i. e., melody not single, but moving attended by one or more related melodies. (c) Music in parts; part writing; harmony; polyphonic music. See Polyphony.

Counterpoint, an invention equivalent to a new creation of music. Whewell.

Coun"ter*point`, n. [OF. contrepoincte, corruption of earlier counstepointe, countepointe, F. courtepointe, fr. L. culcita cushion, mattress (see Quilt, and cf. Cushion) + puncta, fem. p. p. of pungere to prick (see Point). The word properly meant a stitched quilt, with the colors broken one into another.] A coverlet; a cover for a bed, often stitched or broken into squares; a counterpane. See 1st Counterpane.

Embroidered coverlets or counterpoints of purple silk. Sir T. North.

Coun"ter*poise` (koun"t?r-poiz`; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterpoised (-poizd`); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterpoising.] [OE. countrepesen, counterpeisen, F. contrepeser. See Counter, adv., and Poise, v. t. ] 1. To act against with equal weight; to equal in weight; to balance the weight of; to counterbalance.

Weights, counterpoising one another. Sir K. Digby.

2. To act against with equal power; to balance.

So many freeholders of English will be able to beard and counterpoise the rest. Spenser.

Coun"ter*poise` (koun"t?r-poiz`), n. [OE. countrepese, OF. contrepois, F. contrepods. See Counter, adv., and Poise, n.] 1. A weight sufficient to balance another, as in the opposite scale of a balance; an equal weight.

Fastening that to our exact balance, we put a metalline counterpoise into the opposite scale. Boyle.

2. An equal power or force acting in opposition; a force sufficient to balance another force.

The second nobles are a counterpoise to the higher nobility, that they grow not too potent. Bacon.

3. The relation of two weights or forces which balance each other; equilibrium; equiponderance.

The pendulous round eart, with balanced air, In counterpoise. Milton.

Coun"ter*pole` (-p?l`), n. The exact opposite.

The German prose offers the counterpole to the French style. De Quincey.

Coun`ter*pon"der*ate (-p?n"d?r-?t), v. t. To equal in weight; to counterpoise; to equiponderate.

Coun`ter*prove" (koun`t?r-pr??v"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterproved (-pr??vd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterproving.] To take a counter proof of, or a copy in reverse, by taking an impression directly from the face of an original. See Counter proof, under Counter.

counterrevolutionary counter-revolutionary adj. marked by opposition or antipathy to revolution; as, ostracized for his counterrevolutionary tendencies. Opposite of revolutionary. [WordNet 1.5]

Coun"ter-roll` (-r?l`), n. [Cf. Control.] (O. Eng. Law) A duplicate roll (record or account) kept by an officer as a check upon another officer's roll. Burrill.

&fist; As a verb this word is contracted into control. See Control.

Coun`ter*rol"ment (koun`t?r-r?l"ment), n. A counter account. See Control. [Obs.] Bacon.

Coun`ter-sa"li*ent (-s?"l?-e]/>nt or - s?l"yent; 106), a. (Her.) Leaping from each other; -- said of two figures on a coat of arms.

Coun"ter*scale` (koun"t?r-sk?l`), n. Counterbalance; balance, as of one scale against another. [Obs.] Howell.

Coun"ter*scarf` (-sk?rf`), n. [Counter- + scarp: cf. F. contrescarpe.] (Fort.) The exterior slope or wall of the ditch; -- sometimes, the whole covered way, beyond the ditch, with its parapet and glacis; as, the enemy have lodged themselves on the counterscarp.

Coun`ter*seal" (koun`t?r-s?l"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countersealed (-s?ld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Countersealing.] To seal or ratify with another or others. Shak.

Coun`ter*se*cure" (-s?-k?r"), v. t. To give additional security to or for. Burke.