counter English · revision 4431

+ English has several words spelled ''counter'': a table or token for counting, from Medieval Latin computatorium; a person or device that counts, from Latin computator; and the adverb, adjective, noun and verb meaning “against”, from French contre and partly a shortening of [[encounter]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkaʊn.tə/, US /ˈkaʊn.t̬ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|table}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1310|origins=la computare}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|countour]],^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|xno|countour]], Old French contouer, comptoir “counting room, merchant's table”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-med|computātōrium|t=place of accounts]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Latin computātus, past participle of computāre “to count, reckon”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source of [[compute]] and [[count]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A round piece of metal or ivory used in counting: about 1310 in the OED, about 1390 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) A table for counting money or keeping accounts: 1345 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) about 1369 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the mid-14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Counters were later used to keep score in games (1579) and as the pieces in games such as draughts (1605).^(OED 1989) An imitation coin or token is from 1526, and contemptuously money in general from 1601.^(OED 1989) A banker's or money-changer's table, and the table in a shop over which goods are sold, is from 1688;^(OED 1989) the word spread in the 19th century from banks to shops and then to display cases.^(Etymonline) A kitchen counter is by 1875.^(Etymonline) ''Over the counter'', of goods sold and paid for, is by 1875, and ''under the counter'', of clandestine sales, by 1926.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1310 – a counting token.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1345 – a counting table.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1526 – an imitation coin.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1605 – a piece in a board game.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1688 – a shop counter.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1875 – a kitchen counter, and ''over the counter''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1926 – ''under the counter''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A long flat surface over which goods are sold or business is done in a shop, bank or [[office]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A flat surface for preparing food in a [[kitchen]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A small disc used in board games or for keeping count.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An imitation coin; a [[token]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[countertop]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|one that counts}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la computare}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|countour]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) [[bor|xno|countour|t=accountant]], Old French conteor,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|computātor|t=reckoner]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from computāre “to count”.^(Barnhart 1988) Anglo-French did not distinguish it in form from the word for a counting table,^(SOED 2002) and Etymonline treats it as a merger of the two.^(Etymonline) It was also partly formed in English from [[count]] and -er.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An accountant, a local tax official: about 1300 in Barnhart and Etymonline;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Cunter is found earlier as a name.^(Barnhart 1988) One who counts or reckons: the 14th century in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An apparatus for keeping count, as of the revolutions of a wheel, is from 1803,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and an instrument for counting ionizing particles, as in ''Geiger counter'', from 1924.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – an accountant.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1803 – a counting device.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1924 – a particle counter.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who counts.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A device that counts or records a number, such as a [[Geiger counter]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ {{homograph|3|against}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1325|origins=la contra}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adverb is [[bor|frm|contre|t=against, opposite]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|contrā|t=against]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) the source of [[contra-]];^(Barnhart 1988) the adjective (1596) is an independent use of the prefix [[counter-]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) The verb is Middle English countren, partly a shortening of acountren, encountren, [[encounter]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) and partly from French contre “against”.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The verb, to meet: about 1325 in the OED, now obsolete;^(OED 1989) to meet in combat, to encounter: from 1330 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To act in opposition to, to oppose, is from 1382,^(OED 1989) before 1397 in the Wycliffe Bible in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) The adverb, in the opposite direction, is from about 1446, at first of hounds running counter to the game,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) and in opposition, as in ''run counter to'', from 1643.^(OED 1989) The adjective, opposed or opposite, is from 1596, in Spenser's Faerie Queene.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) In fencing a circular parry is from 1611,^(OED 1989) and in boxing, a return blow is a counter by 1861,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) with the verb, to give such a blow, also by 1861.^(Etymonline) In chess, to answer with a countermove is from 1890.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1325 – verb, to meet.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1382 – verb, to oppose.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1446 – adverb, in the opposite direction.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1596 – adjective.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1611 – a parry in fencing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1643 – ''run counter to''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1861 – in boxing.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To act or speak against; to [[oppose]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To answer or return a blow or move.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In the opposite way; contrary: ''run counter to''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Opposing; [[contrary]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something opposite or contrary.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A return blow in boxing, or a circular parry in fencing.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[count]]

+ * [[compute]]

+ * [[encounter]]

+ * [[contra]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Several minor nouns share the spelling: the back of a shoe round the heel (1841), short for counterfort;^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) the part of a horse's breast between the shoulders (1678) and the curved part of a ship's stern (1626), perhaps related to the “against” word.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) Counter is also short for [[countertenor]] (1869).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}