arch. Also 6 conter-, contre-. [a. F. contrepoison (H. Estienne, 1539); cf. It. contraveleno, med.L. contravenēnum, and see COUNTER- 10 a, 9.]

1

  1.  A medicine that counteracts the influence of a poison; an antidote.

2

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, II. lxxxvii. 266. They mengle the floures … in conterpoysons & medicines that are made to expell poyson.

3

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. xxi. (1633), 269. They … are mixed in Counter poysons as Tracle, Mythridate, and such like Compositions.

4

1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 14. A soveraigne counterpoison and remedie against all venim.

5

1678.  J. Philips, Tavernier’s Trav., III. i. 100. He sent me … a Case of Medicaments and Counter-poysons.

6

  fig.  1548.  Veron (title), An Holsom Antidotus or counterpoysen, agaynst the pestylent heresye and secte of Anabaptistes.

7

a. 1603.  T. Cartwright, Confut. Rhem. N. T. (1618), 449. Unlesse by the counterpoyson of the word of God hee vomit it out againe.

8

1656.  Cowley, Pind. Odes, To Dr. Scarborough. A Med’cine and a Counter-poyson to the Age.

9

  b.  attrib.

10

1629.  J. Parkinson, Parad., xxvi. 216. Aconitum salutiferum … in English … eyther wholsome Helmet flower, or counterpoison Monkes hood.

11

1636.  James, Iter Lanc., 328. Ye rich prizd hornes Of counter-poyson sea-fish unicornes.

12

  2.  An opposite poison.

13

1789.  W. Buchan, Dom. Med. (ed. 11), 473. The vulgar notion, that every poison is cured by some counter-poison, as a specific, has done much hurt.

14

1832.  Southey, Hist. Penins. War, III. 102. The men whose heart … revolted against intolerance … were themselves infected with the counterpoison of French philosophy.

15