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(koun"t?r-). [See Counter, adv. ] A prefix meaning contrary, opposite, in opposition; as, counteract, counterbalance, countercheck. See Counter, adv. & a. Count"er (koun"t?r), n.[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 without 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. Coun"ter n.[OE. countour, OF. contouer, comptouer, F. comptoir, LL. computatorium, prop., a computing place, place of accounts, fr. L. computare. See Count, v. t.] 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. Coun"ter adv.[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. Locke. 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. Coun"ter a.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 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 n. Over the counter (Stock Exchanges), in an office; -- said of business so done, as distinguished from that done at an exchange. [Cant] スポンサード リンク
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