Where does “counterofficial” come from?

counterofficial (English) comes from English counter, from Middle English countour, from Middle French contoir, from Middle French compter, from Old French compter, from Latin computāre, from Latin computō, from Latin com- — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

counterofficial (English): Opposing or denying the official line or status

Definitions

  1. Opposing or denying the official line or status

Ancestry of “counterofficial”, step by step

counterofficial traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English counter

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcounterOne who counts; A reckoner; someone who collects...
2Middle EnglishcountourAn accountant; a financial recordkeeper
3Middle FrenchcontoirAlternative spelling of comptoir
4Middle Frenchcompterto recount; to tell
5Old Frenchcompter
6Latincomputāre
7Latincomputōto calculate, compute, reckon together
8Latincom-allomorph of con-
9Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
10Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
11Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
12Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
13Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
14Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
15Middle Englishkyt
16Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
17Old High Germankuti
18Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
19Proto-Germanickweduzresin
20Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
21Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

via English official

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishofficialOf or pertaining to an office or public trust;...
2Middle EnglishofficialAn underling of a member of the clergy, often...
3Old Frenchofficialcourt official; chamber pot; official; certified...
4Latinofficiālisofficial
5Latinofficiumduty, service; office; obligation, an obligatory...
6Latinopificiumwork
7LatinopifexSomeone who does work (especially creative or constructive); worker, maker, framer, fabricator, workman, mechanic, artificer, craftsman, inventor, artist, artisan
8LatinOpsearth goddess, fertility deity
9Latinoscenany bird by whose song cries augurs divined...
10Latinopscen
11Latinob-towards; against
12Latinobolusobolus (Greek coin)
13Ancient Greekὀβολόςobol, obolus, used at Athens as both a weight and...
14Ancient Greekὀβελόςa spit, rod; a horizontal line
15Ancient Greekβέλοςmissile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly...
16Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷélHos
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-
counterofficial — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer