Count v.

Forms: 4–6 counte, (4 Sc. cont, 5 cownt(e, kownt), 4– count. Also β. 4–9 compt, 6 coumpt. [ME. counte-n, a. OF. cunte-r, conte-r = Pr., Sp., Pg. contar, It. contare:—L. computāre to calculate, reckon, f. com- together + putāre to think: see COMPUTE, a modern adoption of the L. Mod.F. has since the 15th c. spelt compter in the sense ‘count,’ keeping conter in the sense ‘tell, relate’: cf. the sense development of tell. Following the Fr., compt was a variant in English from the 15th to the 18th c.]

  I.  trans.

  1.  To tell over one by one, to assign to (individual objects in a collection) the numerals one, two, three, etc., so as to ascertain their number; to number, enumerate; to reckon, reckon up, calculate; also, merely to repeat the numerals in order up to a specified number, as to count ten.

  Now the ordinary word for this; formerly TELL was used.

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1731. Gode hatz counted þy kyndam bi a clene noumbre.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 5549. Of knighthede to count þere was the clene floure.

1515.  Barclay, Egloges, iii. (1570), C ij/2. Suche blinde fooles as can not count nor tell A score saue twentie.

1588.  A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., N v. Comptand … swa mony dominical letters as yair be vnities in ye nombre of ye circle of ye sone of yat ȝere.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. i. 162. Then must I count my gaines.

1665.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 75. Inhabitants not to be counted.

1715.  Pope, 2nd Ep. Miss Blount, 18. Count the slow clock, and dine exact at noon. Ibid. (1734), Ess. Man, IV. 89. Count all th’ advantage prosp’rous Vice attains.

1843.  Macaulay, Lays, Lake Regillus, xxviii. And still stood all who saw them fall While men might count a score.

1844.  Emerson, Lect., New Eng. Ref., Wks. (Bohn), I. 262. The persons who at forty years, still read Greek, can all be counted on your hand.

Mod.  There are savages who cannot count more than three.

  b.  Mus. To mark (the time or rhythm of music) by counting the beats orally. Also absol.

1848.  Rimbault, First Bk. Piano, 31. The time should at first be counted audibly—one, two, three, four—and so on, during each bar. Ibid., 32. In slow movements … it is better to count by Quavers; in quick times, by Crotchets.

Mod.  You are not counting! No, I can play without that.

  c.  To count up: to find the whole sum of by counting, to reckon up. To count out: to count and give out or take out (from a stock), to count so as to exhaust the stock. To count out the House (of Commons): to bring the sitting to a close on counting the number of members present (which the Speaker must do when his attention is drawn to the matter) and finding it less than forty, the number required to ‘make a House’; also loosely to count out a member or measure, i.e., to stop him or it by this means.

1833.  [see COUNTING vbl. sb.].

1839.  Ann. Register, 51. [He] had not proceeded far in his address, when the House was counted out.

1862.  Illustr. Lond. News, XLI. 74/2. Mr. Freeland … was counted out summarily.

1865.  Tylor, Early Hist. Man., iv. 73. The action of counting out coin.

1872.  Morley, Voltaire (1886), 98. To count up his talents and the usury of his own which he added to them.

1884.  Graphic, 21 June, 595/2. It was expected that … the House would be counted out at 9 o’clock.

  d.  To count kin (Sc.): to reckon degrees of kinship with; hence, to be so near of kin that the degrees can be counted or exactly stated. (Used by Scott in the sense ‘To compare one’s pedigree with that of another.’)

1805.  Scott, Last Minstrel, IV. xxvi. No knight in Cumberland so good, But William may count with him kin and blood.

  2.  To include in the reckoning; to reckon in.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 210 b. A naturall daye … that is a daye & a nyght counted togyder.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 70. He is not counted in the number of kinges.

1630.  R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 145. They are bound upon forfeiture of their Fief, to serve three moneths within the Land, and forty dayes without, not counting the dayes of marching.

1859.  Jephson, Brittany, xii. 192. In medieval warfare none but horsemen were counted.

1891.  Law Times, XCII. 106/2. The present number [of the House of Lords] is, without counting princes of the blood, 461.

  3.  To esteem, account, reckon, consider, regard, hold (a thing) to be (so and so).

  a.  with obj. and compl.; = ACCOUNT v. 6 a.

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1685. Þus he countes hym a kow, þat watz a kyng ryche.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, Ninian, 1155. To god I cont a fa Þat but chesoune a mane wald sla.

c. 1500.  New Not-br. Mayd, in Anc. Poet. Tracts (Percy Soc.), 44. In cardes and dyce, He compteth no vyce.

1546.  Supplic. Poore Commons (1871), 88. Coumptynge all fyshe that cometh to the net.

1598.  Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann. (1603), 263. They compt it a heinous crime.

1603.  R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw., 32. The coast of Nova Hispania counting his beginning at the town of Santa Helena.

1658.  A. Fox, trans. Würtz’ Surg., II. xii. 97. These Wounds are counted mortal.

1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 15. It was counted a great exploit to pass this strait.

1878.  Browning, La Saisiaz, 31. Must we count Life a curse and not a blessing?

  b.  with for (arch.), as; = ACCOUNT v. 6 b.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 355 (Mätz.). Þey … counteþ reste for likyng, and fredom for richesse.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 48. But now … kownt we gold as cley.

1535.  Coverdale, Job xviii. 3. Wherefore are we counted as beestes?

1557.  North, trans. Gueuara’s Dialle of Princes, 217 b/2. We thinke that it counteth vs for men that be wise, when [etc.].

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 338. Sir Robert, ye are … counted for a valiaunt man.

1611.  Bible, Job xix. 15. My maides count me for a stranger.

1859.  Tennyson, Geraint & Enid, 1397. I count you for a fool.

1859.  Jephson, Brittany, ii. 14. Died and was counted as a saint.

  c.  with inf. or obj. clause. arch. or dial.

  (With clause colloq. in U.S.: cf. reckon, calculate.)

1553.  T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 165. Hym thei coumpt to bee … a good Rhetorician.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 31. The Sommer seede … is … counted to yeelde more flowre then the Winter grayne.

1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 34. Compting knowledge to bee an happinesse.

1682.  Bunyan, Holy War. I count that old Ill-Pause … did draw up those proposals.

1753.  Foote, Eng. in Paris, I. I count we shall ha’ the whole Gang in a Se’nnight.

a. 1848.  D. Humphreys, Yankee in England (Bartlett). Count de Luc. You can read? Doolittle. I count I can.

1874.  Blackie, Self-Cult., 14. Count yourself not to know a fact when you know that it took place, but … when you see it as it did take place.

  4.  To reckon, estimate, esteem (at such a price or value); † to esteem, value, hold of account (obs.).

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 27775 (Fairf.). Heuenes of mannis hert Þat countis noȝt his awen quert.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, III. 320. I count nocht my lyff a stra.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. X. 303. Caton counteþ hit at nouht and canonistres at lasse.

a. 1440.  Sir Degrev., 191. Y counte hyme nat at a cres.

a. 1550.  Christis Kirke Gr., iv. Scho compt him not twa clokkis.

1857.  De Quincey, China, Wks. 1871, XVI. 249. Homage paid to a picture, when counted against homage paid to a living man, is but a shadow.

  † 5.  To reckon or impute to, put down to the account of. Obs.

1535.  Coverdale, Gen. xv. 6. Abram beleued the Lorde, and y^t was counted vnto him for righteousnes.

1701.  Rowe, Amb. Step-Moth., II. i. All the Impossibilities, which Poets Count to extravagance of loose Description.

  † 6.  To tell, relate, recount. Obs.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (1839), xvii. 183. O þing þat I haue herd cownted whan I was ȝong.

1612.  Dekker, If it be not Good, Wks. 1873, III. 288. Come count your newes.

1655.  trans. De Parc’s Francion, V. 13. I … counted to him … the services I was capable to do for Philemon.

1778.  Camp Guide, 1.

  II.  intrans. (often with indirect passive: e.g., to be counted upon).

  † 7.  To reckon, make reckoning. Obs. exc. in phr. To count without one’s host: see HOST.

1393.  Gower, Conf., III. 31. For to compten ate lest.

c. 1450.  Bk. Curtasye, 552, in Babees Bk., 317. Þo countrollour … Wrytes vp þo somme … And helpes to count.

1533.  Gau, Richt Vay, 97. O heuinlie fader … be to vsz marciful … and count notht scherplie vith vsz.

1549.  Coverdale, Erasm. Par. Rom., II. 41. Christe gladly receyued you, not coumptynge vpon the offences of your former lyfe.

1663.  Butler, Hud., I. III. 22. Hudibras … Found … He did but Count without his Host.

1877.  S. Owen, in Wellesley’s Desp., p. xv. He counted without his host.

  † b.  To account for, give account of. Obs. rare.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 305. Executours … redy to count for alle þe testament.

  † 8.  To make account of, think (much, little lightly, etc.) of, care for. Obs.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 23337 (Fairf.). Of þaire misfare þai counte at noȝt.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 441. Þe pope … counteth nouȝt þough crystene ben culled and robbed.

c. 1450.  Henryson, Mor. Fab., 20. Prydfull hee was … And counted not for Gods fauour.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., II. i. 65. So painted … that no man counts of her beauty.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., IX. (1682), 386. I counting nothing of it, would needs … go in again.

1700.  S. Parker, Six Philos. Ess., 31. He counts so highly of his merit, that [etc.].

1845–6.  Trench, Huls. Lect., Ser. I. vii. 108. To make them count light of it.

  † b.  To think of, judge of (as); = ACCOUNT v. 7.

1602.  W. Watson, Decacorden 336. The Jesuits cannot abide to be counted of as good, devout, simple, religious men, but [etc.].

  9.  With on, upon († of): To make the basis of one’s calculations or plans; to look for or expect with assurance; to depend or rely on (in reference to a possible contingency).

1642.  Fuller, Holy & Prof. State (1840), III. xxiii. 208. There is less honesty, wisdom, and mercy in men than is counted on.

1682.  Bunyan, Holy War, 160. The whole town counted of no other.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 191, ¶ 10. We … may possibly never possess what we have so foolishly counted upon.

a. 1745.  Swift, Wks. (1801), II. 337 (J.). I think it a great errour to count upon the genius of a nation as a standing argument in all ages.

1769.  Robertson, Chas. V., III. VIII. 74. Counting on them as sure auxiliaries.

1840.  Macaulay, Ranke, Ess. (1851), II. 139. Only one thirtieth part of the population could be counted on as good Catholics.

1844.  Disraeli, Coningsby, VIII. iii. The Government count on the seat.

  10.  (absol. use of 1.) a. To practise arithmetic, to ‘do sums.’ Now dial.

1588.  R. Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China, 93. Schooles … in the which they doo learne to write, read, and count.

Mod. Sc.  At school we learned to count on slates.

  b.  To reckon numerically.

1865.  Tylor, Early Hist. Man., v. 106. The Egyptians … counted by upright strokes up to nine, and then made a special sign for ten.

1865.  M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., i. 10. To count by tens is the simplest way of counting.

Mod.  I am tired of counting.

  † 11.  Law. To plead in a court of law. [AF. counter, in Law-books from 13th c. Cf. COUNT sb.¹ 8.] To count upon: to make (any fact) the basis of a count or plea. Obs.

  In the technical language of a system of procedure now abolished, the plaintiff was said to ‘count’ when he declared by the mouth of his advocate, or by written document, the nature of his complaint, while ‘plead’ and ‘plea’ were specifically used of the defendant’s answer to the plaintiff’s count or counts.

  A serjeant-at-law when appointed went before the judges and formally opened an imaginary case, in order to manifest his right to ‘count’ or plead.

1669.  Lond. Gaz., No. 415/4. The next day … they Counted before the Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas at Serjeants-Inn, and this day appeared before all the Judges of England in the Temple-Hall where they had their Robes put on, and received their Coifs, Hoods, and Caps from the Judges.

1689.  Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), I. 529.

1705.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4130/3. They again Counted, and gave Rings to all the Judges, Serjeants and Officers.

1768.  Blackstone, Comm., III. 295. In an action on the case upon an assumpsit for goods sold and delivered, the plaintiff usually counts or declares, first upon a settled and agreed price … and lest he should fail in proof of this, he counts likewise upon a quantum valebant.

1809.  Tomlins, Law Dict., s.v. Count, In passing a recovery at the Common Pleas’ bar, a serjeant at law counts upon the præcipe, [etc.].

  III.  intr. with passive sense (neuter-passive).

  12.  To admit of being counted; in quot. of a verse, to ‘scan’ (by counting the feet).

1845.  Blackw. Mag., LVII. 397. An unimpeachable verse, for it counts right.

  b.  (with compl.) To amount to, be in number, ‘number’; to reckon as (so many).

1819.  Byron, Juan, II. lxiii. They counted thirty.

1820.  Hoyle’s Games Impr., 371. The carambole counts two.

1833.  De Quincey, Autobiog. Sk., Wks. 1863, XIV. 2, note. First and last, we counted as eight children … though never counting more than six living at once.

  13.  To be reckoned or accounted.

1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., xcix. They count as kindred souls.

1874.  Athenæum, 23 March, 699/3. This volume, which is in black letter, may count among the scarcest works of its time.

  14.  To enter into the account or reckoning: a. To count for (much, little, nothing, etc.): to be of (much, little, no) account.

1857.  Buckle, Civiliz., I. xi. 630. The lower classes can count for little in the eyes of those to whom literature is the first consideration.

1861.  Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., v. (1889), 43. Oxford ought to be the place in England where money should count for nothing.

1889.  Jessopp, Coming of Friars, i. 23. High birth … among the haughty Castillians has always counted for a great deal.

  b.  absol.

1885.  R. A. Proctor, Whist, App. 186. Many doubt whether good play really counts much at Whist.

1892.  Sir W. Harcourt, in Daily News, 12 July, 6/3. There is Bedfordshire, and Cambridgeshire … and Somersetshire; but all these do not count…. They like to leave out of account the 21 seats we won at the by-elections, but they do count upon a division.

Mod.  In this examination the first 250 marks do not count at all.