Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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}.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Counter \Coun"ter\, v. i. (Boxing)
   To return a blow while receiving one, as in boxing.

         His left hand countered provokingly.     --C. Kingsley.

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.

Counter \Coun"ter\ (koun"t?r), n.
   An encounter. [Obs.]

         With kindly counter under mimic shade.   --Spenser.

Source : WordNet®

counter
     adj : indicating opposition or resistance [syn: {antagonistic}]

counter
     n 1: table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business
          is transacted
     2: game equipment used in various card or board games
     3: a calculator that keeps a record of the number of times
        something happens [syn: {tabulator}]
     4: a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining
        room; has shelves and drawers [syn: {buffet}, {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}]
     7: (computer science) a register whose contents go through a
        regular series of states (usually states indicating
        consecutive integers)
     8: the piece of leather that fits the heel [syn: {heel}]
     9: a piece of leather forming the back of a shoe
     10: a return punch (especially by a boxer) [syn: {counterpunch},
          {parry}]

counter
     adv : in the opposite direction; "run counter"

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}]