Adjacent Words

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

COUNTER, n. [from count.]
1. A false piece of money or stamped metal, used as means of reckoning; any thing used to keep an account or reckoning, as in games.
2. Money, in contempt.
3. A table or board on which money is counted; a table on which goods in a shop are laid for examination by purchasers. In lieu of this, we sometimes see written the French comptoir, from compter, computo; but counter is the genuine orthography.
4. The name of certain prisons in London.
5. One that counts or reckons; also, an auditor.
6. Encounter. [Not used.]
7. In ships, an arch or vault, whose upper part is terminated by the bottom of the stern. The upper or second counter is above the former, but not vaulted.
Counter of a horse, that part of a horses forehand which lies between the shoulder and under the neck.
COUNTER, adv. [L.]
1. Contrary; in opposition; in an opposite direction; used chiefly with run or go; as, to run counter to the rules of virtue; he went counter to his own interest.
2. The wrong way; contrary to the right course.
3. Contrariwise; in a contrary manner.
4. The face, or at the face. [Not used.]
This word is prefixed to many others, chiefly verbs and nouns, expressing opposition.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: indicating opposition or resistance [syn: antagonistic, counter] n
1: table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
2: game equipment (as a piece of wood, plastic, or ivory) used for keeping a count or reserving a space in various card or board games
3: a calculator that keeps a record of the number of times something happens [syn: counter, tabulator]
4: a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers [syn: buffet, counter, sideboard]
5: a person who counts things
6: a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one); "it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher" [syn: rejoinder, retort, return, riposte, replication, comeback, counter]
7: (computer science) a register whose contents go through a regular series of states (usually states indicating consecutive integers)
8: a piece of leather forming the back of a shoe or boot; "a counter may be used to stiffen the material around the heel and to give support to the foot" [syn: counter, heel counter]
9: a return punch (especially by a boxer) [syn: counterpunch, parry, counter] v
1: speak in response; "He countered with some very persuasive arguments"
2: act in advance of; deal with ahead of time [syn: anticipate, foresee, forestall, counter] adv
1: in the opposite direction; "run counter"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English countour, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin computatorium computing place, from Latin computare Date: 14th century 1. a piece (as of metal or plastic) used in reckoning or in games 2. something of value in bargaining ; asset 3. a level surface (as a table, shelf or display case) over which transactions are conducted or food is served or on which goods are displayed or work is conducted <jewelry counter> <a lunch counter> II. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French cuntur, from cunter to count Date: 14th century one that counts; especially a device for indicating a number or amount III. verb (countered; countering) Etymology: Middle English countren, from Anglo-French cuntre against, opposite, from Latin contra; akin to Latin com- with, together — more at co- Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to act in opposition to ; oppose b. offset, nullify <tried to counter the trend toward depersonalization> 2. to assert in answer <we countered that our warnings had been ignored> intransitive verb to meet attacks or arguments with defensive or retaliatory steps IV. adverb Etymology: Middle English contre, from Anglo-French cuntre Date: 15th century 1. in an opposite or wrong direction 2. to or toward a different or opposite direction, result, or effect <values that run counter to those of society> V. noun Date: 15th century 1. contrary, opposite 2. the after portion of a boat from the waterline to the extreme outward swell or stern overhang 3. a. the act of making an attack while parrying one (as in boxing or fencing); also a blow thus given in boxing b. an agency or force that offsets ; check 4. a stiffener to give permanent form to a boot or shoe upper around the heel 5. an area within the face of a letter wholly or partly enclosed by strokes 6. a football play in which the ballcarrier goes in a direction opposite to the movement of the play VI. adjective Date: 1582 1. marked by or tending toward or in an opposite direction or effect 2. given to or marked by opposition, hostility, or antipathy 3. situated or lying opposite <the counter side> 4. recalling or ordering back by a superseding contrary order ; countermanding <counter orders from the colonel>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. 1 a a long flat-topped fitment in a shop, bank, etc., across which business is conducted with customers. b a similar structure used for serving food etc. in a cafeteria or bar. 2 a a small disc used for keeping the score etc. esp. in table-games. b a token representing a coin. c something used in bargaining; a pawn (a counter in the struggle for power). 3 an apparatus used for counting. 4 Physics an apparatus used for counting individual ionizing particles etc. 5 a person or thing that counts. Phrases and idioms: over the counter by ordinary retail purchase. under the counter (esp. of the sale of scarce goods) surreptitiously, esp. illegally. Etymology: AF count(e)our, OF conteo(i)r, f. med.L computatorium (as COMPUTE) 2. v., adv., adj., & n. --v. 1 tr. a oppose, contradict (countered our proposal with their own). b meet by a countermove. 2 intr. a make a countermove. b make an opposing statement ('I shall!' he countered). 3 intr. Boxing give a return blow while parrying. --adv. 1 in the opposite direction (ran counter to the fox). 2 contrary (his action was counter to my wishes). --adj. 1 opposed; opposite. 2 duplicate; serving as a check. --n. 1 a parry; a countermove. 2 something opposite or opposed. Phrases and idioms: act (or go) counter to disobey (instructions etc.). go (or hunt or run) counter run or ride against the direction taken by a quarry. run counter to act contrary to. Etymology: ME f. OF countre f. L contra against: see COUNTER- 3. n. 1 the part of a horse's breast between the shoulders and under the neck. 2 the curved part of the stern of a ship. 3 Printing a part of a printing-type etc. that is completely enclosed by an outline (e.g. the loop of P). Etymology: 17th c.: orig. unkn. 4. n. the back part of a shoe or a boot round the heel. Etymology: abbr. of counterfort buttress

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Counter 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] Counterglow Coun"ter*glow`, n. (Astron.) 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Speed counter Speed counter (Mach.) A device for automatically counting the revolutions or pulsations of an engine or other machine; -- called also simply counter.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Counter Coun"ter (koun"t?r-). Note: [See Counter, adv. ] A prefix meaning contrary, opposite, in opposition; as, counteract, counterbalance, countercheck. See Counter, adv. & a.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Counter 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Counter 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 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Counter 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Counter 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. --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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Counter Coun"ter, v. i. (Boxing) To return a blow while receiving one, as in boxing. His left hand countered provokingly. --C. Kingsley.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Counter 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Counter Coun"ter (koun"t?r), n. An encounter. [Obs.] With kindly counter under mimic shade. --Spenser.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(counters, countering, countered) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. In a place such as a shop or café, a counter is a long narrow table or flat surface at which customers are served. ...those fellows we see working behind the counter at our local video rental store. ...the cosmetics counter... N-COUNT 2. If you do something to counter a particular action or process, you do something which has an opposite effect to it or makes it less effective. The leadership discussed a plan of economic measures to counter the effects of such a blockade... Sears then countered by filing an antitrust lawsuit. VERB: V n, V by -ing 3. Something that is a counter to something else has an opposite effect to it or makes it less effective. ...NATO's traditional role as a counter to the military might of the Warsaw pact. N-SING: a N to n 4. If you counter something that someone has said, you say something which shows that you disagree with them or which proves that they are wrong. Both of them had to counter fierce criticism... The union countered with letters rebutting the company's claims... The Prime Minister countered by stating that he had grave misgivings about the advice he had been given... 'But Peter, it's not that simple,' Goldstone countered in a firm voice. VERB: V n, V with n, V by -ing, V with quote, also V that 5. A counter is a mechanical or electronic device which keeps a count of something and displays the total. ...an answerphone with an LED display call counter. N-COUNT: usu supp N 6. A counter is a small, flat, round object used in board games. N-COUNT 7. see also bargaining counter, bean counter, Geiger counter, rev counter 8. If a medicine can be bought over the counter, you do not need a prescription to buy it. Are you taking any other medicines whether on prescription or bought over the counter? ...basic over-the-counter remedies. PHRASE 9. Over-the-counter shares are bought and sold directly rather than on a stock exchange. (BUSINESS) PHRASE: usu PHR n 10. If one thing runs counter to another, or if one thing is counter to another, the first thing is the opposite of the second thing or conflicts with it. (FORMAL) Much of the plan runs counter to European agriculture and environmental policy... PHRASE: V inflects, PHR to n 11. If someone buys or sells goods under the counter, they buy or sell them secretly and illegally. The smugglers allegedly sold the gold under the counter, cheating the VAT man out of £5 million. PHRASE: PHR after v

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. Reckoner, calculator. II. ad. Contrary, contrariwise, in opposition to.

Moby Thesaurus

Geiger counter, Wilson chamber, X-ray spectrograph, X-ray spectrometer, abjure, adversary, adversative, adverse, adversive, advocate, against the grain, against the tide, against the wind, agree to disagree, alien, allege in support, alpha pulse analyzer, ambo, answer, antagonistic, antagonize, anti, antipathetic, antipodal, antipode, antipodean, antipodes, antipole, antithesis, antithetic, antithetical, antonym, antonymous, argue for, ascender, assert, assert the contrary, at cross-purposes, at daggers, at daggers drawn, at issue, at odds, at opposite extremes, at variance, at war with, athwart, atom counter, atom-tagger, back, back to back, backward, baffle, baggage check, balancing, balk, bar, bastard type, be antipathetic, be at cross-purposes, be inimical, be opposed to, beard, beat against, beat off, belie, belly, bench, bevel, black letter, blast, block, board, body, boomerang, boron counter, brave, break, break off, buffet, cap, capital, case, challenge, champion, check, checkmate, chip, circumvent, clash, clashing, cloud chamber, collide, come back at, comeback, compensating, competitive, con, conflict, conflict with, conflicting, confound, confront, confronting, confute, contend for, contest, contra, contradict, contradictory, contradistinct, contrapose, contrapositive, contrarious, contrariwise, contrary, contrast with, contrasted, contrasting, contravene, controvert, converse, cosmic ray counter, counteract, counteractive, counterattack, counterbalance, counterbalancing, counterblast, counterblow, countercheck, countermand, counterpoint, counterpoise, counterpoised, counterpole, counterpose, counterstroke, counterterm, countervail, countervailing, counterwork, counting tube, coupon, cross, dash, dead against, defeat, defend, defy, deny, descender, desk, destroy, detrimental, differ, different, difficult, disaccord, disaccordant, disaffirm, disagree, disallow, disavow, disc, disclaim, discomfit, disconcert, discordant, discountenance, discrepant, dish, disown, disparate, disprove, dispute, disrupt, dissent, dissentient, dissimilar, divergent, diverse, drive back, electronic counter, elude, em, en, enemy, escritoire, espouse, exchange, expansion chamber, eyeball to eyeball, eyeball-to-eyeball, face, face to face, fantail, fat-faced type, feet, fend, fend off, flummox, foil, font, forswear, fractious, frustrate, gainsay, gamma ray counter, get back at, give and take, give in exchange, give in return, give-and-take, go against, go counter to, groove, hard, hardly like, harmful, hat check, heavy particle counter, heel, hinder, hindering, hit back at, hold at bay, hold off, hostile, impeding, impugn, in confrontation, in hostile array, in opposition, inconsistent, inimical, interchange, interfere with, inverse, ion counter, ionization chamber, ionizing event, italic, jangle, jar, join issue upon, join the opposition, jostle, just opposite, juxtapose in opposition, keep at bay, keep off, knock the chocks, lectern, letter, ligature, lock horns, logotype, lower case, maintain, majuscule, make a plea, marker, match, meet head-on, militate against, minuscule, miserable, mismatch, mismate, negate, negative, nick, noncooperative, nonplus, nonuniform, nose to nose, not abide, not accept, not admit, not easy, notions counter, nullify, object, obstinate, obstruct, obstructive, obverse, odd, off, offbeat, offset, opponent, oppose, opposed, opposing, opposite, opposite number, oppositional, oppositive, oppugn, oppugnant, out, overthwart, parry, particle counter, perplex, perverse, pi, pica, piece, pit, play at cross-purposes, plead for, point, polar, poles apart, poop, print, protest, push back, pushcart, put back, radiodetector, rebuff, rebut, recalcitrant, recant, reciprocate, reciprocation, recoil, reflex, refractory, refuse to admit, refute, renounce, repel, reply, repudiate, repugnant, repulse, resist, respond, retaliate, retaliation, retort, retract, return, reverse, reversed, revoke, rigorous, riposte, rival, roman, rudderpost, ruin, run against, run counter to, sabotage, sans serif, say in defense, scarcely like, scotch, scrip, script, secretaire, secretary, set off, setoff, shank, shopboard, shoulder, showcase, sinister, slug, small cap, small capital, speak for, speak up for, spike, spoil, squared off, stamp, stand, stand up for, stave off, stem, stern, stick up for, stop, stressful, strike back, stump, support, sustain, swim upstream, table, tag, tail end, take back, take issue with, the contrary, the other side, thwart, ticket, token, traverse, troublesome, troublous, trying, tube counter, turn aside, turned around, type, type body, type class, type lice, typecase, typeface, typefounders, typefoundry, unalike, uncooperative, unfavorable, unfriendly, unidentical, unlike, unmatched, unpropitious, unresembling, unsame, unsimilar, untoward, up in arms, uphold, upper case, upset, urge reasons for, vary, vie, vis-a-vis, vote against, ward off, with crossed bayonets, withstand, work against, workbench, wretched, writing table, wrong-way, wrong-way around