Part 605

Coun`ter*work" (-wűrk"), v. t. To work in opposition to; to counteract.

That counterworks each folly and caprice. Pope.

Count"ess (kount"?s), n.; pl. Countesses (-&?;s). [F. comtesse. See Count a nobleman.] The wife of an earl in the British peerage, or of a count in the Continental nobility; also, a lady possessed of the same dignity in her own right. See the Note under Count.

{ Count"ing*house` (kount"?ng-hous`), Count"ing*room` (kount"?ng-r??m`), } n. [See Count, v.] The house or room in which a merchant, trader, or manufacturer keeps his books and transacts business.

Count"less (-l?s), a. Incapable of being counted; not ascertainable; innumerable.

Count"or (kount"?r), n. [From Count, v. t. (in sense 4).] (O. Eng. Law) An advocate or professional pleader; one who counted for his client, that is, orally pleaded his cause. [Obs.] Burrill.

{ Coun*tour" (k??n-t??r"), Coun*tour"house` (-hous`), } n. [See 2d Counter.] A merchant's office; a countinghouse. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Coun"tre- (koun"ter-). Same as prefix Counter-. [Obs.]

Coun`tre*plete" (-pl?t"), v. t. [Countre- + plete to plead.] To counterplead. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Coun"tre*taille` (koun"t?r-t?l`), n. [F. contretaille; contre (L. contra) + taille cut. See Tally.] A counter tally; correspondence (in sound). [Obs.]

At the countretaille, in return. Chaucer.

Coun"tri*fied (k?n"tr?-f?ld), p. a. Having the appearance and manners of a rustic; rude.

As being one who took no pride, And was a deal too countrified. Lloyd.

Coun"tri*fy (k?n"tr?-f?), v. t. To give a rural appearance to; to cause to appear rustic. Lamb.

Coun"try (k?n"tr?), n.; pl. Countries (-tr&?;z). [F. contrÚe, LL. contrata, fr. L. contra over against, on the opposite side. Cf. Counter, adv., Contra.] 1. A tract of land; a region; the territory of an independent nation; (as distinguished from any other region, and with a personal pronoun) the region of one's birth, permanent residence, or citizenship.

Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred. Gen. xxxxii. 9.

I might have learned this by my last exile, that change of countries cannot change my state. Stirling.

Many a famous realm And country, whereof here needs no account Milton.

2. Rural regions, as opposed to a city or town.

As they walked, on their way into the country. Mark xvi. 12 (Rev. Ver. ).

God made the covatry, and man made the town. Cowper.

Only very great men were in the habit of dividing the year between town and country. Macaulay.

3. The inhabitants or people of a state or a region; the populace; the public. Hence: (a) One's constituents. (b) The whole body of the electors of state; as, to dissolve Parliament and appeal to the country.

All the country in a general voice Cried hate upon him. Shak.

4. (Law) (a) A jury, as representing the citizens of a country. (b) The inhabitants of the district from which a jury is drawn.

5. (Mining.) The rock through which a vein runs.

Conclusion to the country. See under Conclusion. -- To put, or throw, one's self upon the country, to appeal to one's constituents; to stand trial before a jury.

Coun"try, a. 1. Pertaining to the regions remote from a city; rural; rustic; as, a country life; a country town; the country party, as opposed to city.