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.”
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.
Coun·ter brace
1. Naut. The brace of the fore-topsail on the leeward side of a vessel.
2. Engin. A brace, in a framed structure, which resists a strain of a character opposite to that which a main brace is designed to receive.
Note: ☞ In a quadrilateral system of bracing, the main brace is usually in the direction of one diagonal, and the counter brace in the direction of the other. Strains in counter braces are occasioned by the live load only, as, in a roof, by the wind, or, in a bridge, by a moving train.
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