counterassert

C3O1U1N1T1E1R1A1S1S1E1R1T1

verb

To assert in opposition to a previous assertion

OriginEnglish assert ← Middle English counter- ← Anglo-Norman countre- →
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

verbcounterassert (third-person singular simple present counterasserts, present participle counterasserting, simple past and past participle counterasserted)

present singular third person counterasserts · participle present counterasserting · participle past counterasserted · past counterasserted

  1. To assert in opposition to a previous assertion

    Roughouts, some pundits assert, are therefore superior. Other pundits counterassert, fiercely.

    1974, Colin Fletcher, The New Complete Walker, →ISBN, page 36

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
  3. Proto-Italic*kom
  4. Proto-Italic*kom-
  5. Proto-Italic*komteros
  6. Proto-Italic*komterād
  7. Latincontrā
  8. Old Frenchcontre-
  9. Anglo-Normancountre-
  10. Middle Englishcounter-
  11. Englishcounter-
  12. Englishassert
  13. Englishcounterassert

From counter- + assert.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

counterassert. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/counterassert

MLA

“counterassert.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/counterassert. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “counterassert,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/counterassert.

Source: counterassert on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.