Mus. Obs. [f. F. contre against: cf. OF. contre-chanter in same sense, and COUNTER sb.7] intr. To sing an accompaniment to a melody or plain-song. Hence Countering vbl. sb.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., Cowntryn [in] songe, occento. Cownterynge yn songe, concentus [v.r. occentus].
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 117 b. Some rore, some countre, some their balades fayne.
a. 1529. Skelton, Laureate, Wks. I. 16. He trymmyth in hys tenor to counter pyrdewy. Ibid., Garl. Laurel, 705. There was counteryng of carollis in meter and verse. Ibid., Bowge of Courte, 365. Counter he coude O Lux vpon a potte. Ibid., P. Sparowe, 468. The threstyl with her warblyng … The countrynge of the coe.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 186. Nor the counter tennor: for countryng to long.
