Mus. [COUNTER- 12.] A subordinate melody forming an essential part of a fugue, written against, or as accompaniment to, the subject and answer.
1854. trans. Cherubini’s Counterpoint, 64/1. In a two-part fugue there can be only one counter-subject.
1879. Ouseley, in Grove, Dict. Mus., I. 568/1. s.v. Fugue, When the countersubject is introduced simultaneously with the subject at the beginning of a fugue, it should be looked on rather as a second subject.
