counter

v. i. (Boxing) To return a blow while receiving one, as in boxing. [ 1913 Webster ]

His left hand countered provokingly. C. Kingsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A piece of metal, ivory, wood, or bone, used in reckoning, in keeping account of games, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

The old gods of our own race whose names . . . serve as counters reckon the days of the week. E. B. Tylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

What comes the wool to? . . . I can not do it without counters. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Money; coin; -- used in contempt. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To lock such rascal counters from his friends. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A prison; either of two prisons formerly in London. [ 1913 Webster ]

Anne Aysavugh . . . imprisoned in the Counter. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Far.) The breast, or that part of a horse between the shoulders and under the neck. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The back leather or heel part of a boot. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Over the counter (a) (Stock Exchanges), in an office; -- said of business so done, as distinguished from that done at an exchange. [ Cant ] -- (a) without a prescription; needing no prescription; -- said of medicines that can be legally bought without a physician's prescription. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. An encounter. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

With kindly counter under mimic shade. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ F. contre, fr. L. contra against. Cf. Contra-. ] 1. Contrary; in opposition; in an opposite direction; contrariwise; -- used chiefly with run or go. [ 1913 Webster ]

Running counter to all the rules of virtue. Locks. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In the wrong way; contrary to the right course; as, a hound that runs counter. [ 1913 Webster ]

This is counter, you false Danish dogs! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. At or against the front or face. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Which [ darts ] they never throw counter, but at the back of the flier. Sandys. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ See Counter, adv. ] A prefix meaning contrary, opposite, in opposition; as, counteract, counterbalance, countercheck. See Counter, adv. & a. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Counteracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Counteracting. ] To act in opposition to; to hinder, defeat, or frustrate, by contrary agency or influence; as, to counteract the effect of medicines; to counteract good advice. [ 1913 Webster ]