a. [ F. contrefait, p. p. of contrefaire to counterfeit; contre (L. contra) + faire to make, fr. L. facere. See Counter, adv., and Fact. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Representing by imitation or likeness; having a resemblance to something else; portrayed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Look here upon this picture, and on this-
The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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). [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Assuming the appearance of something; false; spurious; deceitful; hypocritical; as, a counterfeit philanthropist. “An arrant counterfeit rascal.” Shak.

Syn. -- Forged; fictitious; spurious; false. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which resembles or is like another thing; a likeness; a portrait; a counterpart. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou drawest a counterfeit
Best in all Athens. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Even Nature's self envied the same,
And grudged to see the counterfeit should shame
The thing itself. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Never call a true piece of gold a counterfeit. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who pretends to be what he is not; one who personates another; an impostor; a cheat. [ 1913 Webster ]

I fear thou art another counterfeit;
And yet, in faith, thou bear'st thee like a king. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee
At all his jokes, for many a joke had he. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To carry on a deception; to dissemble; to feign; to pretend. [ 1913 Webster ]

The knave counterfeits well; a good knave. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make counterfeits. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who counterfeits; one who copies or imitates; especially, one who copies or forges bank notes or coin; a forger. [ 1913 Webster ]

The coin which was corrupted by counterfeiters. Camden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who assumes a false appearance or semblance; one who makes false pretenses. [ 1913 Webster ]

Counterfeiters of devotion. Sherwood. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By forgery; falsely. [ 1913 Webster ]