Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - counter

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English countour, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin computatorium computing place, from Latin computare  Date: 14th century  1. a piece (as of metal or plastic) used in reckoning or in games  2. something of value in bargaining ; asset  3. a level surface (as a table, shelf or display case) over which transactions are conducted or food is served or on which goods are displayed or work is conducted jewelry ~ a lunch ~  II. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French cuntur, from cunter to count  Date: 14th century one that counts; especially a device for indicating a number or amount  III. verb  (~ed; ~ing)  Etymology: Middle English countren, from Anglo-French cuntre against, opposite, from Latin contra; akin to Latin com- with, together — more at co-  Date: 14th century  transitive verb  1.  a. to act in opposition to ; oppose  b. offset, nullify tried to ~ the trend toward depersonalization  2. to assert in answer we ~ed that our warnings had been ignored  intransitive verb to meet attacks or arguments with defensive or retaliatory steps  IV. adverb  Etymology: Middle English contre, from Anglo-French cuntre  Date: 15th century  1. in an opposite or wrong direction  2. to or toward a different or opposite direction, result, or effect values that run ~ to those of society  V. noun  Date: 15th century  1. contrary, opposite  2. the after portion of a boat from the waterline to the extreme outward swell or stern overhang  3.  a. the act of making an attack while parrying one (as in boxing or fencing); also a blow thus given in boxing  b. an agency or force that offsets ; check  4. a stiffener to give permanent form to a boot or shoe upper around the heel  5. an area within the face of a letter wholly or partly enclosed by strokes  6. a football play in which the ballcarrier goes in a direction opposite to the movement of the play  VI. adjective  Date: 1582  1. marked by or tending toward or in an opposite direction or effect  2. given to or marked by opposition, hostility, or antipathy  3. situated or lying opposite the ~ side  4. recalling or ordering back by a superseding contrary order ; ~manding ~ orders from the colonel