Part 601

For us to alter anything, is to lift ourselves against God; and, as it were, to countermand him. Hooker.

Coun"ter*mand (koun"t&etilde;r*m&adot;nd), n. A contrary order; revocation of a former order or command.

Have you no countermand for Claudio yet, But he must die to-morrow? Shak.

Coun`ter*mand"a*ble (-m?nd"?-b'l), a. Capable of being countermanded; revocable. Bacon.

Coun`ter*march" (koun`t?r-m?rch"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Countermarched (-m?rcht"); p. pr. & vb. n. Countermarching.] (Mil.) To march back, or to march in reversed order.

The two armies marched and countermarched, drew near and receded. Macaulay.

Coun"ter*march` (koun"t?r-m?rch`), n. 1. A marching back; retrocession.

2. (Mil.) An evolution by which a body of troops change front or reverse the direction of march while retaining the same men in the front rank; also, a movement by which the rear rank becomes the front one, either with or without changing the right to the left.

3. A change of measures; alteration of conduct.

Such countermarches and retractions as we do not willingly impute to wisdom. T. Burnet.

Coun"ter*mark` (-m?rk`), n. 1. A mark or token added to those already existing, in order to afford security or proof; as, an additional or special mark put upon a package of goods belonging to several persons, that it may not be opened except in the presence of all; a mark added to that of an artificer of gold or silver work by the Goldsmiths' Company of London, to attest the standard quality of the gold or silver; a mark added to an ancient coin or medal, to show either its change of value or that it was taken from an enemy.

2. (Far.) An artificial cavity made in the teeth of horses that have outgrown their natural mark, to disguise their age.

Coun`ter*mark" (koun`t&etilde;r*mńrk"), v. t. To apply a countermark to; as, to countermark silverware; to countermark a horse's teeth.

Coun"ter*mine` (koun"t&etilde;r*mīn`), n. [Counter- + mine underground gallery: cf. F. contermine.] 1. (Mil.) An underground gallery excavated to intercept and destroy the mining of an enemy.

2. A stratagem or plot by which another sratagem or project is defeated.

Thinking himself contemned, knowing no countermine against contempt but terror. Sir P. Sidney.

Coun`ter*mine" (koun`t&etilde;r*mīn"), v. t. [Cf. F. contreminer.] [imp. & p. p. Countermined; p. pr. & vb. n. Countermining.] 1. (Mil.) To oppose by means of a countermine; to intercept with a countermine.

2. To frustrate or counteract by secret measures.

Coun`ter*mine", v. i. To make a countermine or counterplot; to plot secretly.

'Tis hard for man to countermine with God. Chapman.

Coun`ter*move" (koun`t?r-m??v"), v. t. & i. To move in a contrary direction to.

{ Coun"ter*move` (-m??v`), n. Coun"ter*move`ment (-ment). } A movement in opposition to another.

Coun"ter*mure` (-m?r`), n. [Counter- + mure: cf. F. contremur.] (Fort.) A wall raised behind another, to supply its place when breached or destroyed. [R.] Cf. Contramure. Knolles.

Coun`ter*mure" (koun`t?r-m?r"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countermured (-m?rd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Countermuring.] [Cf. F. contremurer.] To fortify with a wall behind another wall. [R.] Kyd.

Coun"ter*nat`u*ral (koun"t?r-n?t`?-ral; 135), a. Contrary to nature. [R.] Harvey.

Coun"ter-pa`ly (-p?`l?), a. [F. contre-palÚ.] (Her.) Paly, and then divided fesswise, so that each vertical piece is cut into two, having the colors used alternately or counterchanged. Thus the escutcheon in the illustration may also be blazoned paly of six per fess counterchanged argent and azure.

Coun"ter*pane` (koun"t?r-p?n`), n. [See Counterpoint, corrupted into counterpane, from the employment of pane-shaped figures in these coverlets. ] A coverlet for a bed, -- originally stitched or woven in squares or figures.

On which a tissue counterpane was cast. Drayton.