▪ I. recounter, n.1 rare.
[f. as prec. + -er1.]
One who relates or recounts.
| 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 158 Wise counselers and re⁓counters of honestie and vertue. 1591 Percivall Sp. Dict., Relator, a recounter, a teller. 1598 Florio, Raccontatore, a reporter, a recounter. 1953 Partridge Shaggy Dog Story ii. 17 But not even the most cavalier of casual recounters may omit two extremely significant and pertinent literary examples. |
▪ II. † recounter, n.2 Obs.
Also 5–6 -tre, 6 Sc. reacuntar.
[f. the vb. Cf. rencounter n.]
1. A meeting, esp. a hostile one; an encounter.
| 1471 Paston Lett. II. 422 Entendyng fro thence to goo foorth..to the recountr of the said enemyes. 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. 372 Many a Cristen man was slayne at that recounter. 1545 T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde 41 In there recountre and metyng, they produce always bygger and bygger vaines and artires. 1599 Hakluyt Voy. II. i. 68 He departed towards London, with a good conduct..for feare of any recounters. |
b. A blow, stroke. rare—1.
| a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon cxx. 431 The Gryffon resyd vp his fete and spredde..his wyngis, and gaue Huon suche a recountre that the noble knyghte was stryken to the erthe. |
2. Sc. Law. A counter-pledge or security.
| 1429 Sc. Acts Jas. I, c. 7 (1814) 18 [He] sal remayn in ane vnlaw of the courte ande tyne the accioun of the quhilk þe borgh & þe recounter was fundyn. 1471 Sc. Acts Jas. III (1814) 101 And þar be excepciouns ane or ma proponit & þaruppone borowis & Recounteris fundin [etc.]. |
▪ III. † reˈcounter, v. Obs.
[f. re- + counter v.1 prob. after F. rencontrer: cf. rencounter v.]
1. trans. To encounter in battle or combat. Also absol., to encounter each other.
| c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. ix. xxvii. 3224 The awaward..To recountir the first perile, First than entrit in the pres. 1455 Rolls of Parlt. V. 279/1 It must hastely be purveid, that they [the king's enemies] mowe..be recountred and resisted. 1485 Caxton Paris & V. (1868) 9 [They] recountred eche other so vygorously þat they breke bothe there speres. 1503 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 544/2 They were recountred, vanquesshed,..overcome and dyvers put to deth. 1533 Bellenden Livy ii. ix. (S.T.S.) I. 162 The romanis..with new curage recounterit þare Inemyis. a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 234 Quhilk efterwart gat new speiris and recounterit freischelie againe. |
b. To encounter, withstand, resist (a feeling or action).
| 1470 Reb. Linc. (Camden) 17 If they wold have biden, to have recountred theire malice. a 1598 Rollock Lect. Passion ii. (1616) 24 This taking recounters and meetes our taking by the deuill, and death. 1702 A. Behn Forc'd Marriage ii. ii, I must either resolve never to provoke His jealousie, or be able to re-counter [1671 re'ncounter] his..valour. |
2. To encounter or meet by chance; to come upon or fall in with.
| 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 227 He passis fra his company..and sa is recounterit be a knycht of Fraunce. 1490 Caxton Eneydos xvi. 62 With this rodde fleeynge he..departed the troublouse clowdes that he recountred in hys waye. 1549 Compl. Scot. Ded. 7 Ane pure man of perse, quha be chance recountrit kyng darius. 1600 Gowrie Conspir. A 2 b, There by accident [he] affirmed to haue recountred a baselike fellow, vnknowne to him. |
b. intr. To meet or fall in with one. rare—1.
| 1583 Foxe A. & M. (ed. 4) 756/1 Making toward the Turkes, and recountring with the Tartarians. |
3. To meet (a person) on arrival. rare—1.
| c 1500 Melusine 348 Thus they rode thrugh the toun into the Castel... There were the six bretheren recountred of two noble ladyes. |
4. Sc. Law. To oppose (the giving of a pledge).
| 1429 Sc. Acts Jas. I, c. 7 (1814) 18 Quhare twa partiis apperis at þe bar and þe tane strek a borgh apone a weir of law þe toþer party sal haf leif to be avisit..quheþir he wil recounter it or nocht... Ande gif he recounteris þe borgh, & strenthis it with resounis [etc.]. |
5. Sc. ‘To turn the contrary way, to reverse, to invert; a technical term among tradesmen’ (Jamieson 1825).
Hence † reˈcountering vbl. n. Obs.
| c 1477 Caxton Jason 6 They mette wyth no knightes in recountring..but that they bare hem out of their arsonnes. c 1500 Melusine 132 [In] that recountryng were many one slayn & wounded. 1533 Bellenden Livy ii. x. (S.T.S.) I. 165 But ony recountering or debate, þai gaif..plegeis for peace. 1536 ― Cron. Scot. (1821) I. 14 Ilk ane of thame slew othir at thair recountering. |