[ad. F. contrechange = It. contracambio (Florio): see COUNTER- 3, 5, 11.]
† 1. Exchange of one thing against another. Obs.
1579. Fenton, Guicciard., VI. (1599), 268. To occupie any place of importance … which they might hold in counterchaunge, or as a pawne to haue againe Montpulcian.
1581. A. Andreson, Serm. Paules Crosse, 81. Trafique, or craue counterchange with the Marchaunt or Usurer.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 924. Concerning counterchange of goods.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 124. In counterchange … of the Corne … transported into forren Countries, there is yearely brought into France, [etc.].
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Counter-change, a mutual Exchange made between two Parties by Compact or Agreement.
† b. Equal or equivalent return; requital, reciprocation. Obs.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. (1594), 407. The Romanes, being unwilling that he [Pyrrhus] should excell them in any kinde of beneficence … sent him as many prisoners of his for a counter-change.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. ix. 16. But Paridell sore brused with the blow Could not arise the counterchaunge to scorse.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), I. 425. In counterchange whereof [kind entertainment] he then … flatly arrested his host.
† 2. Transposition. Obs. [Cf. COUNTERCHANGE v. 3 b.]
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xix. (Arb.), 217. Antimetauole or the Counterchange…. A figure which takes a couple of words to play with in a verse, and by making them to chaunge and shift one into others place they do very pretily exchange and shift the sence.
1622. Peacham, Compl. Gentl., xi. (1634), 103. Hath not Musicke her figures, the same which Rhetorique? What is a Revert but her Antistrophe?… her counterchange of points, Antimetabole’s?
† b. Alternation. Obs.
1602. T. Fitzherbert, Apol., 33 a. The varietie and counterchange of good & bad successe in the warres betwyxt King Henry the sixt and King Edward the fourth.
3. (counter-change.) A change that is the counterpart of another.
1820. L. Hunt, Indicator, No. 27 (1822), I. 214. She therefore wrought a counter-change in the appearance of Procris.
