Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Coun'ter-mine, n. p. 302(Mil.) A gallery under ground so constructed as to facilitate the formation of mines, by means of which those of the enemy may be reached and destroyed. Campbell. 2. Means of opposition or…Coun'ter-mīne', v. t. p. 302(Mil.) To oppose by means of a counter-mine; to frustrate the designs of, by sinking a well and gallery in the earth, in search of an enemy's mine. 2. To frustrate by secret and opposing measures; to…Coun'ter-mīne', v. i. p. 302To make a counter-mine or counter-plot; to work against an opponent by secret measures; to plot secretly. ’Tis hard for man to countermine with God. Chapman.Coun'ter-mō'tion, n. p. 302An opposing motion; a motion counteracting another.Coun'ter-mō'tive, n. p. 302An opposing motive.Coun'ter-move', v. t. or i. p. 302To move in a contrary direction, or in opposition to.Coun'ter-move'ment, n. p. 302A movement in opposition to another.Coun'ter-mūre, n. p. 302A wall raised behind another, to supply its place when breached or destroyed. [Rare.] See CONTRAMURE.Coun'ter-mūre', v. t. p. 302To fortify with a wall behind another. [Rare.]Coun'ter-năt'ū-ral, a. p. 302Contrary to nature.Coun'ter-ne-gō'ti-ā'tion, n. p. 302Negotiation in opposition to other negotiation.Coun'ter-noise, n. p. 302A noise or sound by which another noise or sound is overpowered.Coun'ter-ō'pen-ing, n. p. 302An aperture or vent on the opposite side, or in a different place.Coun'ter-pāçe, n. p. 302A step or measure in opposition to another; contrary measure or attempt.Coun'ter-pāled, a. p. 302(Her.) Divided into twelve pales parted per-fesse, the two colors being counter-changed, so that the upper and lower are of different colors; — said of an escutcheon.Coun'ter-pāne, n. p. 302A coverlet for a bed. See COUNTERPOINT. 2. (O. Law.) One part of an indenture or deed, &c., corresponding with the original; — now called counterpart. “Read, scribe; give me the counterpane.” B.…Coun'ter-pa-rōle', n. p. 302(Mil.) A word given in any time of alarm, as a signal. (Ogilvie.Coun'ter-pārt, n. p. 302A part corresponding to another part; any thing which answers, or corresponds, to another, as the two papers of a contract or indentures; a copy; a duplicate. In some things the laws of Normandy…Coun'ter-păs'sant, a. p. 302(Her.) Facing or going opposite ways;— said of two animals represented in a coat of arms.Coun'ter-pe-ti'tion, n. p. 302A petition in opposition to another. Clarendon.Coun'ter-plēa, n. p. 302(Law.) A replication to a plea or request. Cowell.Coun'ter-plēad', v. t. p. 302To plead the contrary of; to plead against; to deny.Coun'ter-plŏt', v. t. p. 302To 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 Quincey.Coun'ter-plŏt, n. p. 302A plot or artifice opposed to another. L'Estrange.Coun'ter-point, n. p. 302An opposite point. [Obs.] Sandys. 2. A coverlet; a cover for a bed, stitched or woven in squares; — now corrupted into counterpane, from the idea of panes or square openings, such as were formerly…Coun'ter-poise', v. t. p. 302To act against with equal weight; to equal in weight; to counterbalance. The force and distance of weights counterpoising each other ought to be reciprocal. Digby. 2. To act against with equal power…Coun'ter-poise, n. p. 303A 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.…Coun'ter-poi'son, n. p. 303A poison that destroys the effect of another; an antidote.Coun'ter-pōn'der-āte, v. t. p. 303To equal in weight; to counterpoise; to equiponderate.Coun'ter-prāc'tice, n. p. 303Practice in opposition to some other practice.Coun'ter-pres'sure, n. p. 303Force or pressure that acts in a contrary direction to some other opposing pressure.Coun'ter-proj'eet, n. p. 303A project, scheme, or proposal given in opposition to another, as in the negotiation of a treaty. Swift.Coun'ter-proof, n. p. 303(Engraving.) A print taken off from another just printed, which, by being passed through the press, gives the figure of the former, but inverted, and of course in the same position as that of the…Coun'ter-prōve', v. t. p. 303To take a counter-proof of, or a copy in reverse, by taking an impression directly from the face of an original.Coun'ter-rēv'o-lū'tion, n. p. 303A revolution opposed to a former one, and restoring a former state of things.Coun'ter-rèv'o-lû'tion-a-ry, a. p. 303Pertaining to a counter-revolution.Coun'ter-rĕv'o-lū'tion-ist, n. p. 303One engaged in, or befriending, a counter-revolution.Coun'ter-rōll, n. p. 303(O. Eng. Law.) A roll kept by an officer as a check upon another officer’s roll; a duplicate account; a counterpart. Burrill. ☞ As a verb this word is contracted into control. See CONTROL.Coun'ter-rōl'ment, n. p. 303A counter account. See CONTROL. [Obs.] Bacon.Coun'ter-round, n. p. 303(Mil.) A body of officers whose duty it is to visit and inspect the rounds and sentinels. Chambers.Coun'ter-sā'li-ent, a. p. 303(Her.) Leaping from each other;—said of two figures on a coat of arms.Counter-seâle, n. p. 303Balance, as of one scale against another. [Obs.] Howell.Coun'ter-scarf, n. p. 303See COUNTERSCARP.Coun'ter-scârp, n. p. 303(Fort.) The exterior slope of the ditch. ☞ It often signifies the whole covered way, with its parapet and glacis; as when it is said, the enemy have lodged themselves on the counterscarp. [See…Coun'ter-scŭf'fle, n. p. 303Opposite scuffle; contest.Coun'ter-sēal', v. t. p. 303To seal with another. Shak.Coun'ter-se-cūre', v. t. p. 303To give additional security to or for.Coun'ter-se-cû'ri-ty, n. p. 303Security given to one who has become surety for another.Coun'ter-sĕnse, n. p. 303Opposite meaning. Howell.Coun'ter-shaft, n. p. 303**Coun'ter-sign**, v. t. p. 303To 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.Coun'ter-sign, n. p. 303The signature of a secretary or other subordinate officer to a writing signed by the principal or superior, to attest its authenticity. 2. (Mil.) A private signal, word, or phrase, which must be…Coun'ter-sig'nal, n. p. 303A signal to answer or correspond to another.Coun'ter-sig'na-tūre, n. p. 303The name of a secretary or other subordinate officer countersigned to a writing. Below the imperial name is commonly a counter-signature of one of the cabinet ministers. Tooke.Coun'ter-sink', v. t. p. 303To form by drilling or turning, or otherwise, as a depression 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.…Coun'ter-sink, n. p. 303A cavity or depression formed for receiving the head of a screw or bolt. 2. A drill or cutting-tool to enlarge the outer end of a hole in countersinking.Coun'ter-slōpe, n. p. 303An overhanging slope; as, a wall with a counter-slope. Mahan.Coun'ter-stāte/ment, n. p. 303A statement made in opposition to, or denial of, another statement.Coun'ter-stăt'ūte, n. p. 303A contrary statute or ordinance.Coun'ter-stēp, n. p. 303A contrary method of procedure; opposite course of action.