Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “counter” come from?

Counter derives from Old French contre, from Latin contra, ultimately tracing through Latin rota and computare, with the prefix con- meaning "with" or "together."

counter (English): One who counts; A reckoner; someone who collects...

Definitions

  1. One who counts; A reckoner; someone who collects...

Ancestry of “counter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcountour—
2Middle FrenchcontoirAlternative spelling of comptoir
3Middle Frenchcompterto recount; to tell
4Old Frenchcompter—
5Latincomputāre—
6Latincomputō—
7Latincom-allomorph of con-
8Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
9Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
10Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
11Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
12Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
13Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
14Middle Englishkyt—
15Germankitt—
16Old High Germankuti—
17Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
18Proto-Germanickweduzresin
19Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
20Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “counter”

  • countertop
  • counterman
  • counterperson
  • counterjumper
  • counterwoman
  • counterhand
  • anticounter
  • multicounter
  • counterless
  • countercaster
  • counterlike
  • counterworker
  • photocounter
  • countertopped
  • カウンター
  • カウンタ
  • kanta
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →