counter-
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counter-
pref.
1. Contrary; opposite; opposing: counterclaim.
2. Corresponding; complementary: counterfoil.
[Middle English countre-, from Old French contre-, from Latin contrā; see kom in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
counter-
prefix
1. against; opposite; contrary: counterattack.
2. complementary; corresponding: counterfoil.
3. duplicate or substitute: counterfeit.
[via Norman French from Latin contrā against, opposite; see contra-]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
count•er1
(ˈkaʊn tər)n.
1. a table or display case on which goods can be shown, business transacted, etc.
2. (in restaurants, luncheonettes, etc.) a long, narrow table with stools or chairs along one side for the patrons, behind which food is prepared and served.
3. a surface for the preparation of food in a kitchen, esp. on a low cabinet.
4. anything used to keep account, esp. a disk or other small object used in games, as in checkers.
Idioms: 1. over the counter,
a. (of the sale of stock) through a broker's office rather than through the stock exchange.
b. (of the sale of merchandise) through a retail store rather than through a wholesaler.
c. (of the sale of medicinal drugs) without requiring a prescription.
2. under the counter, in a clandestine manner, esp. illegally.
[1300–50; Middle English countour < Anglo-French (Old French comptoir) < Medieval Latin computātorium place for computing = Latin computā(re) to compute]
count•er2
(ˈkaʊn tər)n.
1. a person who counts.
2. a device for counting revolutions of a wheel, items produced, etc.
3. any of various instruments for detecting ionizing radiation and for registering counts, as a Geiger counter.
[1325–75; Middle English countour < Anglo-French (Old French conteor) « Latin computātor=computā(re) to compute + -tor -tor]
coun•ter3
(ˈkaʊn tər)adv.
1. in the wrong way; in the reverse direction.
2. contrary; in opposition.
adj. 3. opposite; opposed; contrary.
n. 4. something that is opposite or contrary to something else.
5. a blow delivered in receiving or parrying another blow, as in boxing.
6. a statement or action made to refute or oppose another statement or action.
7. a circular parry in fencing.
8. a piece of leather or the like inside the lining of the upper of a shoe or boot, around the heel, to keep it stiff.
9. the part of a vessel's stern that overhangs and projects aft of the sternpost.
v.t. 10. to go counter to; oppose; controvert.
11. to meet or answer (a move, blow, etc.) by another in return.
v.i. 12. to make a counter or opposing move.
13. to give a blow while receiving or parrying one, as in boxing.
[1400–50; late Middle English countre < Anglo-French co(u)ntre, cuntre, Old French contre < Latin contrā against]
counter-
a prefix used in the formation of words that have the general senses “against or counter to” (counterintuitive), “in response or reply to” (counterattack; counteroffer), “thwarting, or designed to thwart, frustrate, or nullify” (counterespionage; counterproductive), “refuting” (counterexample), “opposite, in the reverse direction” (counterclockwise; countercurrent), “offsetting, complementary” (counterbalance; counterpart), “occurring simultaneously” (countermelody).
[Middle English countre-; see counter3]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Translations
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
counter2
(ˈkauntə) adverb (with to) in the opposite direction or manner to. The election is running counter to the forecasts.
verb to meet or answer (a stroke or move etc by another). He successfully countered all criticisms.
counter- against or opposite. counter-clockwise.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.