[ad. F. contresens, f. contre- against + sens sense.] An interpretation or meaning opposed to the true sense.
1645. Milton, Tetrach., Wks. (1847), 191/1. Herein the countersense of our divines to me … seems admirable; who teach that God gave this as a merciful law, not for man whom he here names … but for the wife whom he names not.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 461. There are some words now in French which are turned to a countersense; as we use the Dutch word crank in English to be well-disposed, which in the original signifieth to be sick.
1789. P. Smyth, trans. Aldrich’s Archit. (1818), 46. Though since reformed by a modern artist … too much in countersense.
b. The co-existence of opposite senses in the same word.
1884. C. Abel, in Contemp. Rev., April, 500. The disappearance of countersense … admits of being lexicographically traced.
