Pa. t. and pa. pple. -wrought or -worked. [COUNTER- 1.]
1. intr. To work in opposition, or with contrary intent.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., X. lix. (1612), 258. Whereto amaiz’d she counter-works, nor would for ought relent.
1683. Chalkhill, Thealma & Cl., 37. And now Philemon ’gan to guess their ends And counterworks t’ oppose them.
1877. E. R. Conder, Bas. Faith, ii. 53. Two divers sets of causes are ever interworking and counterworking in the tangled web of human affairs.
2. trans. To work against or in opposition to; to oppose by contrary operations; to counteract, frustrate.
1628. Pym, Addr., in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1659), I. 596. By this means they [commonwealths] repair the breaches, and counterwork the ordinary and natural effects of time.
c. 1678. J. B., in G. Hickes, Spir. Popery, 75. After the Lord hath counter-wrought these Enemies.
1762. Hume, Hist. Eng. (1806), IV. l. 36. To counterwork the amorous projects of his rival.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 635. He could not actively counterwork the regent.
1875. Poste, Gaius, IV. (ed. 2), 598. A colliding right of the defendant, whereby the right of the plaintiff is … counter worked or restrained from operation.
† 3. Mil. (See quot.) Obs.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), To Counter-work, (in the Art of War) is to raise Works, in order to oppose and ruin those of the Enemy.
