Main Entry:

³coun·ter

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

coun·tered; coun·ter·ing \ˈkau̇n-t(ə-)riŋ\

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 verb1 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