v. [COUNTER- 1.]
† 1. To act against, in opposition to, or contrary to; to oppose. Obs.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4423/2. We have … sworn to maintain Your Majesty’s Government … and shall never counter-act the Obligations of so just an Oath.
c. 1790. J. Willock, Voy., vii. 252. I had counteracted his intentions often before, especially in going to sea at first against his inclinations.
a. 1832. Mackintosh, Revolution, Wks. 1846, II. 161. The King, counteracted by his ministers, almost silently acquiesced.
absol. 1794. Sullivan, View Nat., II. 383. Particles and substances, acting and counteracting, preserve the equilibrium.
2. To hinder or defeat by contrary action; to neutralize the action or effect of.
a. Said of the action of persons.
1755. Johnson, Counteract, to hinder any thing from its effect by contrary agency.
1761. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, IV. viii. As the greatest evil has befallen him,—I must counteract and undo it with the greatest good.
1777. Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 84. To counteract them, I wrote several amusing pieces.
1838. Lytton, Alice, I. 8. Providence can counteract all our schemes.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 18. James was desirous to counteract the impression which these things had made.
b. Said of forces, influences, etc.
1678. South, Serm. (1737), II. x. 360. In this case we can find no principle within him strong enough to counter-act that principle, and to relieve him.
1862. Sir B. Brodie, Psychol. Inq., II. i. 9. Neither knowledge nor philosophy is in all cases sufficient to counteract the effect of human frailty.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 89. The weight upon the upper surface is counteracted by the upward pressure of the air on the under surface.
