Chapter CII: Conclusion: Con*clu"sion, n. Etym: F., fr. L. conclusio. See Conclude (11)

Defn: To treat by pushing down or displacing the opaque lens with a needle; as, to couch a cataract. To couch a spear or lance, to lower to the position of attack; to place in rest. He stooped his head, and couched his spear, And spurred his steed to full career. Sir W. Scott. To couch malt, to spread malt on a floor. Mortimer.

COUCH Couch, v. i.

1. To lie down or recline, as on a bed or other place of rest; to repose; to lie. Where souls do couch on flowers, we 'll hand in hand. Shak. If I court moe women, you 'll couch with moe men. Shak.

2. To lie down for concealment; to hide; to be concealed; to be included or involved darkly. We 'll couch in the castle ditch, till we see the light of our fairies. Shak. The half-hidden, hallf-revealed wonders, that yet couch beneath the words of the Scripture. I. Taylor.

3. To bend the body, as in reverence, pain, labor, etc.; to stoop; to crouch. [Obs.] An aged squire That seemed to couch under his shield three-square. Spenser.

COUCH Couch, n. Etym: [F. couche, OF. colche, culche, fr. colchier. See Couch, v. t. ]

1. A bed or place for repose or sleep; particularly, in the United States, a lounge. Gentle sleep . . . why liest thou with the vile In loathsome beds, and leavest the kingly couch Shak. Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams. Bryant.

2. Any place for repose, as the lair of a beast, etc.

3. A mass of steeped barley spread upon a floor to germinate, in malting; or the floor occupied by the barley; as, couch of malt.

4. (Painting & Gilding)

Defn: A preliminary layer, as of color, size, etc.

COUCHANCY Couch"an*cy (kouch"an-s), n.

Defn: State of lying down for repose. [R.]

COUCHANT Couch"ant (kouch"ant), a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of coucher. See Couch, v. t.]

1. Lying down with head erect; squatting.

2. (Her.)

Defn: Lying down with the head raised, which distinguishes the posture of couchant from that of dormant, or sleeping; -- said of a lion or other beast. Couchant and levant (Law), rising up and lying down; -- said of beasts, and indicating that they have been long enough on land, not belonging to their owner, to lie down and rise up to feed, -- such time being held to include a day and night at the least. Blackstone.

COUCHE Cou`ché" (k`sh"), a. Etym: [F., p. p. of coucher. See Couch, v. t. ] (Her.) (a) Not erect; inclined; -- said of anything that is usually erect, as an escutcheon. (b) Lying on its side; thus, a chevron couché is one which emerges from one side of the escutcheon and has its apex on the opposite side, or at the fess point.

COUCHED Couched (koucht), a. (Her.)

Defn: Same as Couch.

COUCHEE Cou"chee (k"sh; F. k"sh"), n. Etym: [F. couch a sleeping place from coucher. See Couch, v. t. ]

Defn: A reception held at the time of going to bed, as by a sovereign or great prince. [Obs.] Dryden. The duke's levees and couchees were so crowded that the antechambers were full. Bp. Burnet.

COUCHER Couch"er (kouch"r), n.

1. One who couches.

2. (Paper Manuf.)

Defn: One who couches paper.

3. Etym: [Cf. L. collectarius.] (O. Eng. Law) (a) A factor or agent resident in a country for traffic. Blount. (b) The book in which a corporation or other body registers its particular acts. [Obs.] Cowell.

COUCH GRASS Couch" grass` (grs`). (Bot.)

Defn: See Quitch grass.

COUCHING Couch"ing, n.

1. (Med.)

Defn: The operation of putting down or displacing the opaque lens in cataract.

2. Embroidering by laying the materials upon the surface of the foundation, instead of drawing them through.

COUCHLESS Couch"less (kouch"ls), a.

Defn: Having no couch or bed.

COUDEE Cou"dee (k"d; F. k`d"), n. Etym: [F. coud, from coude elbow.]

Defn: A measure of length; the distance from the elbow to the end of the middle finger; a cubit.

COUGAR Cou"gar (k"gr), n. Etym: [F. couguar, from the native name in the South American dialects, cuguacuara, cuguacuarana.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American feline quadruped (Felis concolor), resembling the African panther in size and habits. Its color is tawny, without spots; hence writers often called it the American lion. Called also puma, panther, mountain lion, and catamount. See Puma.

COUGH Cough (kf), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Coughed (kft); p. pr. & vb. n. Coughing.] Etym: [Cf. D. kuchen, MHG. k to breathe, G. keuchen to pant, and E. chincough, the first part of which is prob. akin to cough; cf. also E. choke.]

Defn: To expel air, or obstructing or irritating matter, from the lungs or air passages, in a noisy and violent manner.

COUGH Cough, v. t.

1. To expel from the lungs or air passages by coughing; -- followed by up; as, to cough up phlegm.

2. To bring to a specified state by coughing; as, he coughed himself hoarse. To cough down, to silence or put down (an objectionable speaker) by simulated coughing.

COUGH Cough, n. Etym: [Cg. D. kuch. See Cough, v. i. ]

1. A sudden, noisy, and violent expulsion of air from the chest, caused by irritation in the air passages, or by the reflex action of nervous or gastric disorder, etc.

2. The more or less frequent repetition of coughing, constituting a symptom of disease. Stomach cough, Ear cough, cough due to irritation in the stomach or ear.

COUGHER Cough"er (kf"r), n.

Defn: One who coughs.

COUHAGE Cou"hage (kou"j), n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Cowhage.

COULD Could (kd), imp. of Can. Etym: [OF. coude. The l was inserted by mistake, under the influence of should and would.]

Defn: Was, should be, or would be, able, capable, or susceptible. Used as an auxiliary, in the past tense or in the conditional present.

COULEE Cou`lee" (k`l"), n. Etym: [F. coulée, fr. couler to run or flow.]

Defn: A stream; (Geol.)

Defn: a stream of lava. Also, in the Western United States, the bed of a stream, even if dry, when deep and having inclined sides; distinguished from a cañon, which has precipitous sides.

COULEUR Cou`leur", n. [F.]

1. Color; -- chiefly used in a few French phrases, as couler de rose, color of rose; and hence, adjectively, rose-colored; roseate.

2. A suit of cards, as hearts or clubs; --used in some French games.

COULISSE Cou*lisse" (k-ls"; F. k`ls"), n. Etym: [F., fr. couler to flow, glide.]

1. A piece of timber having a groove in which something glides.

2. One of the side scenes of the stage in a theater, or the space included between the side scenes.

COULOIR Cou`loir" (k`lwr"), n. Etym: [F., a strainer.]

1. A deep gorge; a gully.

2. (Hydraul. Engin.)

Defn: A dredging machine for excavating canals, etc.

COULOMB Cou`lomb" (k`ln"), n. Etym: [From Coulomb, a French physicist and electrican.] (Physics)

Defn: The standard unit of quantity in electrical measurements. It is the quantity of electricity conveyed in one second by the current produced by an electro-motive force of one volt acting in a circuit having a resistance of one ohm, or the quantitty transferred by one ampère in one second. Formerly called weber.

COULOMB METER Cou`lomb" me"ter. (Elec.)

Defn: Any instrument by which electricity can be measured in coulombs.

COULOMB'S LAW Cou`lomb's" law. (Physics)

Defn: The law that the force exerted between two electric or magnetic charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely to the square of the distance between them.

COULTER Coul"ter (kl"tr), n.

Defn: Same as Colter.

COULTERNEB Coul"ter*neb` (-nb`), n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The puffin.

COULURE Cou*lure", n. [F., prop., a dropping.] (Hort.)

Defn: A disease affecting grapes, esp. in California, manifested by the premature dropping of the fruit.

COUMARIC Cou*mar"ic (k-mr"k), a.

Defn: Relating to, derived from, or like, the Dipterix odorata, a tree of Guiana. Coumaric acid (Chem.), one of a series of aromatic acids, related to cinnamic acid, the most important of which is a white crystalline substance, HO.C6H4.C2H2.CO2H, obtained from the tonka bean, sweet clover, etc., and also produced artifically.

COUMARIN Cou"ma*rin (k"m-rn), n. Etym: [F., fr. coumarou, a tree of Guiana.] (Chem.)

Defn: The concrete essence of the tonka bean, the fruit of Dipterix (formerly Coumarouna) odorata and consisting essentially of coumarin proper, which is a white crystalline substance, C9H6O2, of vanilla- like odor, regarded as an anhydride of coumaric acid, and used in flavoring. Coumarin in also made artificially.

COUMAROU Cou"ma*rou, n. [See Coumarin.] (Bot.)

Defn: The tree (Dipteryx odorata) which bears the tonka bean; also, the bean itself.

COUNCIL Coun"cil (koun"sl), n. Etym: [F. concile, fr. L. concilium; con- + calare to call, akin to Gr. hale, v., haul. Cf. Conciliate. This word is often confounded with counsel, with which it has no connection.]

1. An assembly of men summoned or convened for consultation, deliberation, or advice; as, a council of physicians for consultation in a critical case.

2. A body of man elected or appointed to constitute an advisory or a legislative assembly; as, a governor's council; a city council. An old lord of the council rated me the other day. Shak.

3. Act of deliberating; deliberation; consultation. Satan . . . void of rest, His potentates to council called by night. Milton. O great in action and in council wise. Pope. Aulic council. See under Aulic. -- Cabinet council. See under Cabinet. -- City council, the legislative branch of a city government, usually consisting of a board of aldermen and common council, but sometimes otherwise constituted. -- Common council. See under Common. -- Council board, Council table, the table round which a council holds consultation; also, the council itself in deliberation. -- Council chamber, the room or apartment in which a council meets. -- Council fire, the ceremonial fire kept burning while the Indians hold their councils. [U.S.] Barilett. -- Council of war, an assembly of officers of high rank, called to consult with the commander in chief in regard to measures or importance or nesessity. -- Ecumenical council (Eccl.), an assembly of prelates or divines convened from the whole body of the church to regulate matters of doctrine or discipline. -- Executive council, a body of men elected as advisers of the chief magistrate, whether of a State or the nation. [U.S.] -- Legislative council, the upper house of a legislature, usually called the senate. -- Privy council. See under Privy. [Eng.]

Syn. -- Assembly; meeting; congress; diet; parliament; convention; convocation; synod.

COUNCILIST Coun"cil*ist (koun"sl-st), n.

Defn: One who belong to a council; one who gives an opinion. [Obs.] I will in three months be an expert counsilist. Milton.

COUNCILMAN Coun"cil*man (koun`sl-man), n.; pl. Councilmen (-men).

Defn: A member of a council, especially of the common council of a city; a councilor.

COUNCILOR Coun"cil*or (koun"sl-r), n.

Defn: A member of a council. [Written also councillor.]

Note: The distinction between councilor, a member of a council, and counselor, one who gives councel, was not formerly made, but is now very generally recognized and observed.

CO-UNE Co`-une" (k`n"), v. t. Etym: [L. co- + unus one.]

Defn: To combine or unite. [Obs.] "Co-uned together." Feltham.

CO-UNITE Co`-u*nite" (k`-nt"), v. t.

Defn: To unite. [Obs.]

CO-UNITE Co`-u*nite", a.

Defn: United closely with another. [Obs.]

COUNSEL Coun"sel (koun"sl), n. Etym: [OE. conc, F. conseil, fr. L. consilium, fr. the root of consulere to consult, of uncertain origin. Cf. Consult, Consul.]

1. Interchange of opinions; mutual advising; consultation. All the chief priest and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, to put him to death. Matt. xxvii. 1.

2. Examination of consequences; exercise of deliberate judgment; prudence. They all confess, therefore, in the working of that first cause, that counsel is used. Hooker.

3. Result of consultation; advice; instruction. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised. Shak. It was ill counsel had misled the girl. Tennyson.

4. Deliberate purpose; design; intent; scheme; plan. The counsel of the Lord standeth forever. Ps. xxxiii. 11. The counsels of the wicked are deceit. Prov. xii. 5.

5. A secret opinion or purpose; a private matter. Thilke lord . . . to whom no counsel may be hid. Gower.

6. One who gives advice, especially in legal matters; one professionally engaged in the trial or management of a cause in court; also, collectively, the legal advocates united in the management of a case; as, the defendant has able counsel. The King found his counsel as refractory as his judges. Macaulay.

Note: The some courts a distinction is observed between the attorney and the counsel in a cause, the former being employed in the management iof the more mechanical parts of the suit, the latter in attending to the pleadings, managing the cause at the trial, and in applying the law to the exigencies of the case during the whole progress of the suit. In other courts the same person can exercise the powers of each. See Attorney. Kent. In counsel, in secret. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- To keep counsel, or To keep one's own counsel, to keep one's thoughts, purposes, etc., undisclosed. The players can not keep counsel: they 'll tell all. Shak.

Syn. -- Advice; consideration; consultation; purpose; scheme; opinion.

COUNSEL Coun"sel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counseled (-sld) or Counselled; p. pr. & vb. n. Counseling or Counselling.] Etym: [OE. conseilen, counseilen, F. conseiller, fr. L. consiliari, fr. consilium counsel.]

1. To give advice to; to advice, admonish, or instruct, as a person. Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you To leave this place. Shak.

2. To advise or recommend, as an act or course. They who counsel war. Milton. Thus Belial, with words clothed in reson's garb, Counseled ignoble ease and peaceful sloth. Milton.

COUNSELABLE Coun"sel*a*ble (--b'l), a. Etym: [Written also counsellable.]

1. Willing to receive counsel or follow advice. [R.] Few men of so great parts were upon all occasions more counselable than he. Clarendon.

2. Suitable to be advised; advisable, wise. [Obs.] He did not believe it counselable. Clarendon.

COUNSELOR Coun"sel*or (koun"sl-r), n. [Written also counsellor.] Etym: [OE. conseiler, F. conseiller, fr. L. consiliarius, fr. consilium counsel.]

1. One who counsels; an adviser. Can he that speaks with the tongue of an enemy be a good counselor, or no Shak.

2. A member of council; one appointed to advise a sovereign or chief magistrate.

Note: [See under Consilor.]

3. One whose profession is to give advice in law, and manage causes for clients in court; a barrister. Good counselors lack no clients. Shak.

COUNSELORSHIP Coun"sel*or*ship (koun"sl-r-shp), n.

Defn: The function and rank or office of a counselor. Bacon.

COUNT Count (kount), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counted; p. pr. & vb. n. Counting.] Etym: [OF. conter, and later (etymological spelling) compter, in modern French thus distinguished; conter to relate (cf. Recount, Account), compter to count; fr. L. computuare to reckon, compute; com- + putare to reckon, settle, order, prune, orig., to clean. See Pure, and cf. Compute.]

1. To tell or name one by one, or by groups, for the purpose of ascertaining the whole number of units in a collection; to number; to enumerate; to compute; to reckon. Who can count the dust of Jacob Num. xxiii. 10. In a journey of forty miles, Avaux counted only three miserable cabins. Macaulay.

2. To place to an account; to ascribe or impute; to consider or esteem as belonging. Abracham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Rom. iv. 3.

3. To esteem; to account; to reckon; to think, judge, or consider. I count myself in nothing else so happy As in a soul remembering my good friends. Shak. To count out. (a) To exclude (one) will not particapate or cannot be depended upon. (b) (House of Commons) To declare adjourned, as a sitting of the House, when it is ascertained that a quorum is not present. (c) To prevent the accession of (a person) to office, by a fraudulent return or count of the votes cast; -- said of a candidate really elected. [Colloq.]

Syn. -- To calculate; number; reckon; compute; enumerate. See Calculate.

COUNT Count, v. i.

1. To number or be counted; to possess value or carry weight; hence, to increase or add to the strength or influence of some party or interest; as, every vote counts; accidents count for nothing. This excellent man . . . counted among the best and wisest of English statesmen. J. A. Symonds.

2. To reckon; to rely; to depend; -- with on or upon. He was brewer to the palace; and it was apprehended that the government counted on his voice. Macaulay. I think it a great error to count upon the genius of a nation as a standing argument in all ages. Swift.

3. To take account or note; -- with of. [Obs.] "No man counts of her beauty." Shak.

4. (Eng. Law)

Defn: To plead orally; to argue a matter in court; to recite a count. Burrill.

COUNT Count, n. Etym: [F. conte and compte, with different meanings, fr. L. computus a computation, fr. computare. See Count, v. t.]

1. The act of numbering; reckoning; also, the number ascertained by counting. Of blessed saints for to increase the count. Spenser. By this count, I shall be much in years. Shak.

2. An object of interest or account; value; estimation. [Obs.] "All his care and count." Spenser.

3. (Law)

Defn: A formal statement of the plaintiff's case in court; in a more technical and correct sense, a particular allegation or charge in a declaration or indictment, separately setting forth the cause of action or prosecution. Wharton.

Note: In the old law books, count was used synonymously with declaration. When the plaintiff has but a single cause of action, and makes but one statement of it, that statement is called indifferently count or declaration, most generally, however, the latter. But where the suit embraces several causes, or the plaintiff makes several different statements of the same cause of action, each statement is called a count, and all of them combined, a declaration. Bouvier. Wharton.

COUNT Count, n. Etym: [F. conte, fr. L. comes, comitis, associate, companion, one of the imperial court or train, properly, one who goes with another; com- + ire to go, akin to Skr. i to go.]

Defn: A nobleman on the continent of Europe, equal in rank to an English earl.

Note: Though the tittle Count has never been introduced into Britain, the wives of Earls have, from the earliest period of its history, been designated as Countesses. Brande & C. Count palatine. (a) Formerly, the proprietor of a county who possessed royal prerogatives within his county, as did the Earl of Chester, the Bishop of Durham, and the Duke of Lancaster. [Eng.] See County palatine, under County. (b) Originally, a high judicial officer of the German emperors; afterward, the holder of a fief, to whom was granted the right to exercise certain imperial powers within his own domains. [Germany]

COUNTABLE Count"a*ble (--b'l), a.

Defn: Capable of being numbered.

COUNTENANCE Coun"te*nance (koun"t-nans), n. Etym: [OE. contenance, countenaunce, demeanor, composure, F. contenance demeanor, fr. L. continentia continence, LL. also, demeanor, fr. L. continere to hold together, repress, contain. See Contain, and cf. Continence.]

1. Appearance or expression of the face; look; aspect; mien. So spake the Son, and into terror changed His countenance. Milton.

2. The face; the features. In countenance somewhat doth resemble you. Shak.

3. Approving or encouraging aspect of face; hence, favor, good will, support; aid; encouragement. Thou hast made him . . . glad with thy countenance. Ps. xxi. 6. This is the magistrate's peculiar province, to give countenance to piety and virtue, and to rebuke vice. Atterbury.

4. Superficial appearance; show; pretense. [Obs.] The election being done, he made countenance of great discontent thereat. Ascham. In countenance, in an assured condition or aspect; free from shame or dismay. "It puts the learned in countenance, and gives them a place among the fashionable part of mankind." Addison. -- Out of countenance, not bold or assured; confounded; abashed. "Their best friends were out of countenance, because they found that the imputations . . . were well grounded." Clarendon. -- To keep the countenance, to preserve a composed or natural look, undisturbed by passion or emotion. Swift.

COUNTENANCE Coun"te*nance (koun"t-nans), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countenanced (- nanst); p. pr. & vb. n. Countenancing.]

1. To encourage; to favor; to approve; to aid; to abet. This conceit, though countenanced by learned men, is not made out either by experience or reason. Sir T. Browne. Error supports custom, custom countenances error. Milton.

2. To make a show of; to pretend. [Obs.] Which to these ladies love did countenance. Spenser.

COUNTENANCER Coun"te*nan*cer (-nan-sr), n.

Defn: One who countenances, favors, or supports.

COUNTER Coun"ter (koun"tr-).

Note: [See Counter, adv. ]

Defn: A prefix meaning contrary, opposite, in opposition; as, counteract, counterbalance, countercheck. See Counter, adv. & a.

COUNTER Count"er (koun"tr), n. Etym: [OE. countere, countour, a counter (in sense 1), OF. contere, conteor, fr. conter to count. See Count, v. t. ]

1. One who counts, or reckons up; a calculator; a reckoner.

2. A piece of metal, ivory, wood, or bone, used in reckoning, in keeping account of games, etc. The old gods of our own race whose names . . . serve as counters reckon the days of the week. E. B. Tylor. What comes the wool to . . . I can not do it witthout counters. Shak.

3. Money; coin; -- used in contempt. [Obs.] To lock such rascal counters from his friends. Shak.

4. A prison; either of two prisons formerly in London. Anne Aysavugh . . . imprisoned in the Counter. Fuller.

5. A telltale; a contrivance attached to an engine, printing press, or other machine, for the purpose of counting the revolutions or the pulsations. Knight.

COUNTER Coun"ter, n. Etym: [OE. countour, OF. contouer, comptouer, F. comptoir, LL. computatorium, prop., a computing place, place of accounts, fr. L. computare. See Count, v. t.]

Defn: A table or board on which money is counted and over which business is transacted; a long, narrow table or bench, on which goods are laid for examination by purchasers, or on which they are weighed or measured.

COUNTER Coun"ter, adv. Etym: [F. contre, fr. L. contra against. Cf. Contra-.]

1. Contrary; in opposition; in an opposite direction; contrariwise; - - used chiefly with run or go. Running counter to all the rules of virtue. Locks.

2. In the wrong way; contrary to the right course; as, a hound that runs counter. This is counter, you false Danish dogs! Shak.

3. At or against the front or face. [R.] Which [darts] they never throw counter, but at the back of the flier. Sandys.

COUNTER Coun"ter, a.

Defn: Contrary; opposite; contrasted; opposed; adverse; antagonistic; as, a counter current; a counter revolution; a counter poison; a counter agent; counter fugue. "Innumerable facts attesting the counter principle." I. Taylor. 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.

COUNTER Coun"ter, n. Etym: [See Counter, adv., Contra.]

1. (Naut.)

Defn: 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.)

Defn: 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.)

Defn: The breast, or thet part of a horse between the shoulders and under the neck.

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

COUNTER Coun"ter (koun"tr), n.

Defn: An encounter. [Obs.] With kindly counter under mimic shade. Spenser.

COUNTER Coun"ter, v. i. (Boxing)

Defn: To return a blow while receiving one, as in boxing. His left hand countered provokingly. C. Kingsley.

COUNTERACT Coun`ter*act" (koun`tr-kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counteracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Counteracting.]

Defn: 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.

COUNTERACTION Coun`ter*ac"tion (koun`tr-k"shn), n.

Defn: Action in opposition; hindrance resistance. [They] do not . . . overcome the counteraction of a false principle or of stubborn partiality. Johnson.

COUNTERACTIVE Coun`ter*act"ive (-kt"v), a.

Defn: Tending to counteract.

COUNTERACTIVE Coun`ter*act"ive, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, counteracts.

COUNTERACTIVELY Coun`ter*act"ive*ly, adv.

Defn: By counteraction.

COUNTERBALANCE Coun`ter*bal"ance (-bl"ans), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterbalanced (- anst); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterbalancing.]

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

COUNTERBALANCE Coun"ter*bal`ance (koun"tr-bl`ans), n.

Defn: 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.

COUNTERBORE Coun"ter*bore` (-br`), 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.

COUNTERBORE Coun`ter*bore" (koun`tr-br"), v. t.

Defn: To form a counterbore in, by boring, turning, or drilling; to enlarge, as a hole, by means of a counterbore.

COUNTER BRACE Coun"ter brace` (brs`).

1. (Naut.)

Defn: The brace of the fore-topsail on the leeward side of a vessel.

2. (Engin.)

Defn: A brace, in a framed structure, which resists a strain of a character opposite to that which a main brace is designed to receive.

Note: 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.

COUNTERBRACE Coun"ter*brace`, v. t.

1. (Naut.)

Defn: 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.)

Defn: To brace in such a way that opposite strains are resisted; to apply counter braces to.

COUNTERBUFF Coun`ter*buff" (koun`tr-bf"), v. t.

Defn: To strike or drive back or in an opposite direction; to stop by a blow or impulse in front. Dryden.

COUNTERBUFF Coun"ter*buff` (koun"tr-bf`), n.

Defn: A blow in an opposite direction; a stroke that stops motion or cause a recoil.

COUNTERCAST Coun"ter*cast` (koun"tr-kst`), n.

Defn: A trick; a delusive contrivance. [Obs.] Spenser.

COUNTERCASTER Coun"ter*cast`er (-r), n.

Defn: A caster of accounts; a reckoner; a bookkeeper; -- used conteptuously.

COUNTERCHANGE Coun`ter*change" (koun`tr-chnj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterchanged (-chnjd"); 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. With-elms, that counterchange the floor Of this flat lawn with dusk and bright. Tennyson.

COUNTERCHANGE Coun"ter*change` (koun"tr-chnj`), n.

Defn: Exchange; reciprocation.

COUNTERCHANGED Coun`ter*changed" (-chnjd"), a.

1. Exchanged.

2. (Her.)

Defn: 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.

COUNTERCHARGE Coun"ter*charge` (koun"tr-chrj`), n.

Defn: An opposing charge.

COUNTERCHARM Coun`ter*charm" (koun`tr-chrm"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countercharmed (-chrmd`); p. pr. & vb. n. Countercharming.]

Defn: To destroy the effect of a charm upon.

COUNTERCHARM Coun"ter*charm` (koun"tr-chrm`), n.

Defn: That which has the power of destroying the effect of a charm.

COUNTERCHECK Coun`ter*check" (koun`tr-chk"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterchecked (- chckt"); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterchecking.]

Defn: To oppose or check by some obstacle; to check by a return check.

COUNTERCHECK Coun"ter*check` (koun"tr-chk`), 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.

COUNTERCLAIM Coun"ter*claim` (-klm`), n. (Law)

Defn: A claim made by a person as an offset to a claim made on him.

COUNTER-COMPONY Coun"ter-com*po`ny (-km-p`n), a. (Her.)

Defn: See Compony.

COUNTER-COUCHANT Coun"ter-couch`ant (koun"tr-kouch"ant), a. (Her.)

Defn: Lying down, with their heads in opposite directions; -- said of animals borne in a coat of arms.

COUNTER-COURANT Coun"ter-cou*rant" (-k-rnt"), a. (Her.)

Defn: Running in opposite directions; -- said of animals borne in a coast of arms.

COUNTERCURRENT Coun"ter*cur`rent (koun"tr-kr`-rent), a.

Defn: Running in an opposite direction.

COUNTERCURRENT Coun"ter*cur`rent, n.

Defn: A current running in an opposite direction to the main current.

COUNTERDRAW Coun`ter*draw" (koun`tr-dr"), v. t. [imp. Counterdrew (-dr"); p. p. Counterdrawn (-drn"); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterdrawing.]

Defn: To copy, as a design or painting, by tracing with a pencil on oiled paper, or other transparent substance.

COUNTERFAISANCE Coun"ter*fai"sance (koun"tr-f"zans), n.

Defn: See Counterfesance. [Obs.]

COUNTERFEIT Coun"ter*feit (koun"tr-ft), a. Etym: [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.

COUNTERFEIT 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 bears'st thee like a king. Shak.

COUNTERFEIT 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.

COUNTERFEIT 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.

COUNTERFEITER Coun"ter*feit`er (-ft`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.

COUNTERFEITLY Coun"ter*feit`ly, adv.

Defn: By forgery; falsely.

COUNTERFESANCE Coun"ter*fe`sance (-f"zans), n. Etym: [OF. contrefaisance, fr. contrefaire. See Counterfeit, a.]

Defn: The act of forging; forgery. [Obs.] [Written also counterfaisance.]

COUNTERFLEURY Coun"ter*fleu`ry (koun"tr-fl`r), a. Etym: [F. contrefleuri.] (Her.)

Defn: Counterflory.

COUNTERFLORY Coun"ter*flo`ry (-fl`r), a. Etym: [See Counterfleury.] (Her.)

Defn: 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.

COUNTERFOIL Coun"ter*foil` (-foil), n. Etym: [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.

COUNTERFORCE Coun"ter*force` (-frs`), n.

Defn: An opposing force.

COUNTERFORT Coun"ter*fort` (-frt`), n.

1. (Fort.)

Defn: A kind of buttress of masonry to strengthen a revetment wall.

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

COUNTERGAGE Coun"ter*gage` (-gj`), n. (Carp.)

Defn: 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.

COUNTERGLOW Coun"ter*glow`, n. (Astron.)

Defn: An exceedingly faint roundish or somewhat oblong nebulous light near the ecliptic and opposite the sun, best seen during September and October, when in the constellations Sagittarius and Pisces. Its cause is not yet understood. Called also Gegenschein.

COUNTERGUARD Coun"ter*guard` (koun"tr-grd`), n. (Fort.)

Defn: 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.

COUNTERIRRITANT; COUNTERIRRITATION Coun"ter*ir`ri*tant (-r"r-tant), n., Coun"ter*ir`ri*ta"tion, n.

Defn: See Counter irritant, etc., under Counter, a.

COUNTERIRRITATE Coun"ter*ir"ri*tate (koun"tr-r"r-tt), v. t. (Med.)

Defn: To produce counter irritation in; to treat with one morbid process for the purpose of curing another.

COUNTERJUMPER Coun"ter*jump`er (koun"tr-jmp`r), n.

Defn: A salesman in a shop; a shopman; -- used contemtuously. [Slang]

COUNTERLATH Coun"ter*lath`, n. (Building) (a) A batten laid lengthwise between two rafters to afford a bearing for laths laid crosswise. (b) Any lath laid without actual measurement between two gauged laths. (c) Any of a series of laths nailed to the timbers to raise the sheet lathing above their surface to afford a key for plastering. (d) One of many laths used in preparing one side of a partition or framed wall, when the other side has been covered in and finished.

COUNTERMAN Coun"ter*man (koun"tr-man), n.; pl. Countermen (-men).

Defn: A man who attends at the counter of a shop to sell goods. [Eng.]

COUNTERMAND Coun`ter*mand" (koun`tr-mnd"), v. t. [imp & p. p. Countermanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Countermanding.] Etym: [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 bodles. Harvey.

3. To oppose; to revoke the command of. For us to alter anuthing, is to lift ourselves against God; and, as it were, to countermand him. Hooker.

COUNTERMAND Coun"ter*mand (koun"tr-mnd), n.

Defn: A contrary order; revocation of a former order or command. Have you no countermand for Claudio yet, But he must die to-morrow Shak.

COUNTERMANDABLE Coun`ter*mand"a*ble (-mnd"-b'l), a.

Defn: Capable of being countermanded; revocable. Bacon.

COUNTERMARCH Coun`ter*march" (koun`tr-mrch"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Countermarched (-mrcht"); p. pr. & vb. n. Countermarching.] (Mil.)

Defn: To march back, or to march in reversed order. The two armies marched and countermarched, drew near and receded. Macaulay.

COUNTERMARCH Coun"ter*march` (koun"tr-mrch`), n.

1. A marching back; retrocession.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: 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.

COUNTERMARK Coun"ter*mark` (-mrk`), 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.)

Defn: An artificial cavity made in the teeth of horses that have outgrown their natural mark, to disguise their age.

COUNTERMARK Coun`ter*mark" (koun`tr-mrk"), v. t.

Defn: To apply a countenmark to; as, to countermark silverware; to countermark a horse's teeth.

COUNTERMINE Coun"ter*mine` (koun"tr-mn`), n. Etym: [Counter- + mine underground gallery: cf. F. contermine.]

1. (Mil.)

Defn: 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.

COUNTERMINE Coun`ter*mine" (koun`tr-mn"), v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. contreminer.] [imp. & p. p. Countermined; p. pr. & vb. n. Countermining.]

1. (Mil.)

Defn: To oppose by means or a countermine; to intercept with a countermine.

2. To frustrate or counteract by secret measures.

COUNTERMINE Coun`ter*mine", v. i.

Defn: To make a countermine or counterplot; to plot secretly. 'Tis hard for man to countermine with God. Chapman.

COUNTERMOVE Coun`ter*move" (koun`tr-mv"), v. t. & i.

Defn: To move in a contrary direction to.

COUNTERMOVE; COUNTERMOVEMENT Coun"ter*move` (-mv`), n. Coun"ter*move`ment (-ment).

Defn: A movement in opposition to another.

COUNTERMURE Coun"ter*mure` (-mr`), n. Etym: [Counter- + mure: cf. F. contremur.] (Fort.)

Defn: A wall raised behind another, to supply its place when breached or destroyed. [R.] Cf. Contramure. Knolles.

COUNTERMURE Coun`ter*mure" (koun`tr-mr"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countermured (- mrd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Countermuring.] Etym: [Cf. F. contremurer.]

Defn: To fortify with a wall behind another wall. [R.] Kyd.

COUNTERNATURAL Coun"ter*nat`u*ral (koun"tr-nt`-ral; 135), a.

Defn: Contrary to nature. [R.] Harvey.

COUNTER-PALY Coun"ter-pa`ly (-p`l), a. Etym: [F. contre-palé.] (Her.)

Defn: 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.

COUNTERPANE Coun"ter*pane` (koun"tr-pn`), n. Etym: [See Counterpoint, corrupted into counterpane, from the employment of pane-shaped figures in these coverlets. ]

Defn: A coverlet for a bed, -- originally stitched or woven in squares or figures. On which a tissue counterpane was cast. Drayton.

COUNTERPANE Coun"ter*pane`, n. Etym: [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)

Defn: 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.

COUNTERPART Coun"ter*part` (koun"tr-prt`), 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)

Defn: 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 suplements 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.

COUNTERPASSANT Coun"ter*pas`sant (-ps"sant), a. Etym: [Counter- + passant:cf. F. contrepassant.] (Her.)

Defn: Passant in opposite directions; -- said of two animals.

COUNTERPLEAD Coun`ter*plead" (koun`tr-pld"), v. t.

Defn: To plead the contrary of; to plead against; to deny.

COUNTERPLOT Coun`ter*plot" (koun`tr-plt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterplotted;p. pr. & vb. n. Counterplotting.]

Defn: 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.

COUNTERPLOT Coun"ter*plot` (koun"tr-plt`), n.

Defn: A plot or artifice opposed to another. L'Estrange.

COUNTERPOINT Coun"ter*point` (koun"tr-point`), n. Etym: [Counter- + point.]

Defn: An opposite point [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.

COUNTERPOINT Coun"ter*point`, n. Etym: [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.

COUNTERPOINT Coun"ter*point`, n. Etym: [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.]

Defn: 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.

COUNTERPOISE Coun"ter*poise` (koun"tr-poiz`; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterpoised (-poizd`); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterpoising.] Etym: [OE. countrepesen, counterpeisen, F. contrepeser. See Counter, adv., and Poise, v. t. ]

1. To act against with equal weight; to equal in weght; to balance the weight of; to counterbalance. Weigts, 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.

COUNTERPOISE Coun"ter*poise` (koun"tr-poiz`), n. Etym: [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; equilibrum; equiponderance. The pendulous round eart, with balanced air, In counterpoise. Milton.

COUNTERPOLE Coun"ter*pole` (-pl`), n.

Defn: The exact opposite. The German prose offers the counterpole to the French style. De Quincey.

COUNTERPONDERATE Coun`ter*pon"der*ate (-pn"dr-t), v. t.

Defn: TO equal in weight; to counterpoise; to equiponderate.

COUNTERPROVE Coun`ter*prove" (koun`tr-prv"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterproved (- prvd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterproving.]

Defn: 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 counterrevolutionary counter-revolutionary adj.

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

COUNTER-ROLL Coun"ter-roll` (-rl`), n. Etym: [Cf. Control.] (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A duplicate roll (record or account) kept by an officer as a check upon another officer's roll. Burrill.

Note: As a verb this word is contracted into control. See Control.

COUNTERROLMENT Coun`ter*rol"ment (koun`tr-rl"ment), n.

Defn: A counter account. See Control. [Obs.] Bacon.

COUNTER-SALIENT Coun`ter-sa"li*ent (-s"l-ent or -sl"yent; 106), a. (Her.)

Defn: Leaping from each other; -- said of two figures on a coast of arms.

COUNTERSCALE Coun"ter*scale` (koun"tr-skl`), n.

Defn: Counterbalance; balance, as of one scale against another. [Obs.] Howell.

COUNTERSCARF Coun"ter*scarf` (-skrf`), n. Etym: [Counter- + scarp: cf. F. contrescarpe.] (Fort.)

Defn: 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.

COUNTERSEAL Coun`ter*seal" (koun`tr-sl"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countersealed (- sld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Countersealing.]

Defn: To seal or ratify with another or others. Shak.

COUNTERSECURE Coun`ter*se*cure" (-s-kr"), v. t.

Defn: To give additional security to or for. Burke.

COUNTERSHAFT Coun"ter*shaft` (koun"tr-shft`), n. (Mach.)

Defn: An intermediate shaft; esp., one which receives motion from a line shaft in a factory and transmits it to a machine.

COUNTERSIGN Coun`ter*sign" (-sn`; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countersigned (- snd`); p. pr. & vb. n. Countersigning.] Etym: [Counter- + sign: cf. F. contresigner.]

Defn: To sign on the opposite side of (an instrument or writing); hence, to sign in addition to the signature of a principal or superior, in order to attest the authenticity of a writing.

COUNTERSIGN Coun"ter*sign`, a.

1. The signature of a secretary or other officer to a writing signed by a principal or superior, to attest its authenticity.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: A private signal, word, or phrase, which must be given in order to pass a sentry; a watchword.

COUNTERSINK Coun"ter*sink` (koun"tr-sk`; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countersunk (- s; p. pr. & vb. n. Countersinking.]

1. To chamfer or form a depression around the top of (a hole in wood, metal, etc.) for the reception of the head of a screw or bolt below the surface, either wholly or in part; as, to countersink a hole for a screw.

2. To cause to sink even with or below the surface; as, to countersink a screw or bolt into woodwork.

COUNTERSINK Coun"ter*sink`, n.

1. An enlargement of the upper part of a hole, forming a cavity or depression for receiving the head of a screw or bolt.

Note: In the United States a flaring cavity formed by chamfering the edges of a round hole is called a countersink, while a cylindrical flat-bottomed enlargement of the mouth of the hole is usually called a conterbore.

2. A drill or cutting tool for countersinking holes.

COUNTERSTAND Coun"ter*stand` (-st, n.

Defn: Resistance; opposition; a stand against. Making counterstand to Robert Guiscard. Longfellow.

COUNTERSTEP Coun"ter*step` (koun"tr-stp`), n.

Defn: A contrary method of procedure; opposite course of action.

COUNTERSTOCK Coun"ter*stock` (-stk`), n.

Defn: See Counterfoil.

COUNTERSTROKE Coun"ter*stroke` (-strk`), n.

Defn: A stroke or blow in return. Spenser.

COUNTERSUNK Coun"ter*sunk` (-snk`), p. p. & a. from Countersink.

1. Chamfered at the top; -- said of a hole.

2. Sunk into a chamfer; as, a countersunk bolt.

3. Beveled on the lower side, so as to fit a chamfered countersink; as, a countersunk nailhead.

COUNTERSWAY Coun"ter*sway` (-sw`), n.

Defn: A swaying in a contrary direction; an opposing influence. [Obs.] A countersway of restraint, curbing their wild exorbitance. Milton.

COUNTER TENOR Coun"ter ten`or (tn`r). Etym: [OF. contreteneur. Cf. Contratenor, and see Tenor a part in music.] (Mus.)

Defn: One of the middle parts in music, between the tenor and the treble; high tenor. Counter-tenor clef (Mus.), the C clef when placed on the third line; -- also called alto clef.

COUNTERTERM Coun"ter*term` (-trm`), n.

Defn: A term or word which is the opposite of, or antithesis to, another; an antonym; -- the opposite of synonym; as, "foe" is the counterterm of "friend". C. J. Smith.

COUNTERTIME Coun"ter*time` (-tm`), n.

1. (Man.)

Defn: The resistance of a horse, that interrupts his cadence and the measure of his manege, occasioned by a bad horseman, or the bad temper of the horse.

2. Resistance; opposition. [Obs.] Give not shus the countertime to fate. Dryden.

COUNTERTRIPPANT Coun"ter*trip`pant (-trp`pant), a. (Her.)

Defn: Trippant in opposite directions. See Trippant.

COUNTERTRIPPING Coun"ter*trip`ping (-trp`png), a. (Her.)

Defn: Same as Countertrippant.

COUNTERTURN Coun"ter*turn` (-t, n.

Defn: The critical moment in a play, when, contrary to expectation, the action is embroiled in new difficulties. Dryden.

COUNTERVAIL Coun`ter*vail" (koun`tr-vl"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countervailed (- vld); p. pr. & vb. n. Countervailing.] Etym: [OF. contrevaloir; contre (L. contra) + valoir to avail, fr. L. valere to be strong, avail. See Vallant.]

Defn: To act against with equal force, power, or effect; to thwart or overcome by such action; to furnish an equivalent to or for; to counterbalance; to compensate. Upon balancing the account, the profit at last will hardly countervail the inconveniences that go allong with it. L'Estrange.

COUNTERVAIL Coun"ter*vail` (koun"tr-vl`), n.

Defn: Power or value sufficient to obviate any effect; equal weight, strength, or value; equivalent; compensation; requital. [Obs.] Surely, the present pleasure of a sinful act is a poor countervail for the bitterness of the review. South.

COUNTERVALLATION Coun`ter*val*la"tion (-vl-l"sn), n. (Fort.)

Defn: See Contravallation.

COUNTERVIEW Coun"ter*view` (koun"tr-v`), n.

1. An opposite or opposing view; opposition; a posture in which two persons front each other. Within the gates of hell sat Death and Sin, In counterview. Milton M. Peisse has ably advocated the counterview in his preface and appendixx. Sir W. Hamilton.

2. A position in which two dissimilar things illustrate each other by opposition; contrast. I have drawn some lines of Linger's character, on purpose to place it in counterview, or contrast with that of the other company. Swift.

COUNTERVOTE Coun`ter*vote" (koun`tr-vt"), v. t.

Defn: To vote in opposition ti; to balance or overcome by viting; to outvote. Dr. J. Scott.

COUNTERWAIT Coun`ter*wait", v. t.

Defn: To wait or watch for; to be on guard against. [Obs.] Chaucer.

COUNTERWEIGH Coun`ter*weigh" (-w"), v. t.

Defn: To weigh against; to counterbalance.

COUNTER WEIGHT Coun"ter *weight` (-wt`), n.

Defn: A counterpoise.

COUNTERWHEEL Coun`ter*wheel" (-hwl"), v. t. (Mil.)

Defn: To cause to wheel or turn in an opposite direction.

COUNTERWORK Coun`ter*work" (-wrk"), v. t.

Defn: To work in oppositeion to; to counteract. That counterworksh folly and caprice. Pope.

COUNTESS Count"ess (kount"s), n.; pl. Countesses (-. Etym: [F. comtesse. See Count a nobleman.]

Defn: The wife of an earl in the British peerage, or of a count in the Continental nobility; also, a lady possessed of the same dignity in her own right. See the Note under Count.

COUNTINGHOUSE; COUNTINGROOM Count"ing*house` (kount"ng-hous`), Count"ing*room` (kount"ng-rm`), n. Etym: [See Count, v. ]

Defn: The house or room in which a merchant, trader, or manufacturer keeps his books and transacts business.

COUNTLESS Count"less (-ls), a.

Defn: Incapable of being counted; not ascertainable; innumerable.

COUNTOR Count"or (kount"r), n. Etym: [From Count, v. t. (in sense 4).] (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: An advocate or professional pleader; one who counted for his client, that is, orally pleaded his cause. [Obs.] Burrill.

COUNTOUR; COUNTOURHOUSE Coun*tour" (kn-tr"), Coun*tour"house` (-hous`), n. Etym: [See 2d Counter.]

Defn: A merchant's office; a countinghouse. [Obs.] Chaucer.

COUNTRE- Coun"tre- (koun"ter-).

Defn: Same as prefix Counter-. [Obs.]

COUNTREPLETE Coun`tre*plete" (-plt"), v. t. Etym: [Countre- + plete to plead.]

Defn: To counterplead. [Obs.] Chaucer.