counteract, v.
(kaʊntərˈækt)
[counter- 1.]
† 1. To act against, in oppostion to, or contrary to; to oppose. Obs.
| 1708 Lond. Gaz. No. 4423/2 We have..sworn to maintain Your Majesty's Government..and shall never counter-act the Obligations of so just an Oath. c 1790 J. Willock Voy. vii. 252, I had counteracted his intentions often before, especially in going to sea at first against his inclinations. a 1832 Mackintosh Revolution Wks. 1846 II. 161 The King, counteracted by his ministers, almost silently acquiesced. |
| absol. 1794 Sullivan View Nat. II. 383 Particles and substances, acting and counteracting, preserve the equilibrium. |
2. To hinder or defeat by contrary action; to neutralize the action or effect of.
a. Said of the action of persons.
| 1755 Johnson, Counteract, to hinder any thing from its effect by contrary agency. 1761 Sterne Tr. Shandy iv. viii, As the greatest evil has befallen him,—I must counteract and undo it with the greatest good. 1771 Franklin Autobiog. Wks. 1840 I. 84 To counteract them, I wrote several amusing pieces. 1838 Lytton Alice 7 Providence can counteract all our schemes. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 18 James was desirous to counteract the impression which these things had made. |
b. Said of forces, influences, etc.
| 1678 South Serm. (1737) II. x. 360 In this case we can find no principle within him strong enough to counter-act that principle, and to relieve him. 1862 Sir B. Brodie Psychol. Inq. II. i. 9 Neither knowledge nor philosophy is in all cases sufficient to counteract the effect of human frailty. 1878 Huxley Physiogr. 89 The weight upon the upper surface is counteracted by the upward pressure of the air on the under surface. |