Middle English Dictionary Entry
cǒuntre n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | cǒuntre n.(1) Also contre, counter, count(o)ur. |
| Etymology | Cp. cǒuntre adv. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The contrary of something; a remedy; (b) the opposite half of a tally ( = countretaille); (c) ?a circular parry in fencing [cp.OD sb.(5)]; (d) hunt. the direction opposite that taken by the game; (e) mus. a voice, or vocal part, accompanying a plain song; the opposite of the mene 'mean', using the same intervals, but below instead of above the melody.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1553 : Countur wyþ countur ys I-huled ofte, When þey be leyde to-gedur softe.
b
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)29a : Cowntyr: Anticopa.
c
- a1500 The man that wol (Hrl 3542)p.308 : Thys ys the ferst cowntere of the too hond swerd.
d
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)96 : Þe hunter ought to be avised þat his houndes catche it [the scent] so wele in couple or he relay þat þei renne not in contre.
e
- (1447) Doc.Durham in Sur.Soc.9p.cccxv : Ad addiscendum..playnsange, prikenot, faburdon, dischaunte, et countre.
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)258/15 : Here folwiþ a litil tretise a-cording to þe ferst tretise of þe sight of descant, & also for þe sight of countir, & for þe syght of the countirtenor & of ffaburdon.
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)261/21,29 : Nou attentli is for to procede ferþir to þe sightis & þe a-cordis of counter, the whech sight was contriuid out of þe syght of þe mene degre of descant & triuyd vpsodoun. And as þer longith propreli to þe mene sight but 5 a-cordis, so þer longiþ no mo but 5 a-cordis propreli to þe sight of counter, þe whech be þese: vnisoun, 3de, 5te, 6te, & 8te.
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)263/2 : Now it is conuenient to knou how þat þe counter shal be shape to serue þe plain-song boþe ascending & descendyng.
- a1475 Asneth (Hnt EL 26.A.13)20 : As able ys þe asse to danielis dremys, As þe cukkou with crochetis ony countour to close.