n. [ F. conte and compte, with different meanings, fr. L. computus a computation, fr. computare. See Count, v. t. ] 1. The act of numbering; reckoning; also, the number ascertained by counting. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of blessed saints for to increase the count. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

By this count, I shall be much in years. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An object of interest or account; value; estimation. [ Obs. ] “All his care and count.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) A formal statement of the plaintiff's case in court; in a more technical and correct sense, a particular allegation or charge in a declaration or indictment, separately setting forth the cause of action or prosecution. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In the old law books, count was used synonymously with declaration. When the plaintiff has but a single cause of action, and makes but one statement of it, that statement is called indifferently count or declaration, most generally, however, the latter. But where the suit embraces several causes, or the plaintiff makes several different statements of the same cause of action, each statement is called a count, and all of them combined, a declaration. Bouvier. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. conte, fr. L. comes, comitis, associate, companion, one of the imperial court or train, properly, one who goes with another; com- + ire to go, akin to Skr. i to go. ] A nobleman on the continent of Europe, equal in rank to an English earl. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Though the tittle Count has never been introduced into Britain, the wives of Earls have, from the earliest period of its history, been designated as Countesses. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

Count palatine. (a) Formerly, the proprietor of a county who possessed royal prerogatives within his county, as did the Earl of Chester, the Bishop of Durham, and the Duke of Lancaster. [ Eng. ] See County palatine, under County. (b) Originally, a high judicial officer of the German emperors; afterward, the holder of a fief, to whom was granted the right to exercise certain imperial powers within his own domains. [ Germany ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To number or be counted; to possess value or carry weight; hence, to increase or add to the strength or influence of some party or interest; as, every vote counts; accidents count for nothing. [ 1913 Webster ]

This excellent man . . . counted among the best and wisest of English statesmen. J. A. Symonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To reckon; to rely; to depend; -- with on or upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was brewer to the palace; and it was apprehended that the government counted on his voice. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

I think it a great error to count upon the genius of a nation as a standing argument in all ages. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To take account or note; -- with of. [ Obs. ] “No man counts of her beauty.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Eng. Law) To plead orally; to argue a matter in court; to recite a count. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Counted; p. pr. & vb. n. Counting. ] [ OF. conter, and later (etymological spelling) compter, in modern French thus distinguished; conter to relate (cf. Recount, Account), compter to count; fr. L. computuare to reckon, compute; com- + putare to reckon, settle, order, prune, orig., to clean. See Pure, and cf. Compute. ] 1. To tell or name one by one, or by groups, for the purpose of ascertaining the whole number of units in a collection; to number; to enumerate; to compute; to reckon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who can count the dust of Jacob? Num. xxiii. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

In a journey of forty miles, Avaux counted only three miserable cabins. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To place to an account; to ascribe or impute; to consider or esteem as belonging. [ 1913 Webster ]

Abracham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Rom. iv. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To esteem; to account; to reckon; to think, judge, or consider. [ 1913 Webster ]

I count myself in nothing else so happy
As in a soul remembering my good friends. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To count out. (a) To exclude (one) from consideration; to be assured that (one) will not participate or cannot be depended upon. (b) (House of Commons) To declare adjourned, as a sitting of the House, when it is ascertained that a quorum is not present. (c) To prevent the accession of (a person) to office, by a fraudulent return or count of the votes cast; -- said of a candidate really elected. [ Colloq. ]

Syn. -- To calculate; number; reckon; compute; enumerate. See Calculate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being numbered. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. contenance, countenaunce, demeanor, composure, F. contenance demeanor, fr. L. continentia continence, LL. also, demeanor, fr. L. continere to hold together, repress, contain. See Contain, and cf. Continence. ] 1. Appearance or expression of the face; look; aspect; mien. [ 1913 Webster ]

So spake the Son, and into terror changed
His countenance. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The face; the features. [ 1913 Webster ]

In countenance somewhat doth resemble you. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Approving or encouraging aspect of face; hence, favor, good will, support; aid; encouragement. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou hast made him . . . glad with thy countenance. Ps. xxi. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

This is the magistrate's peculiar province, to give countenance to piety and virtue, and to rebuke vice. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Superficial appearance; show; pretense. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The election being done, he made countenance of great discontent thereat. Ascham. [ 1913 Webster ]

In countenance, in an assured condition or aspect; free from shame or dismay. “It puts the learned in countenance, and gives them a place among the fashionable part of mankind.” Addison. --
Out of countenance, not bold or assured; confounded; abashed. “Their best friends were out of countenance, because they found that the imputations . . . were well grounded.” Clarendon. --
To keep the countenance, to preserve a composed or natural look, undisturbed by passion or emotion. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Countenanced p. pr. & vb. n. Countenancing. ] 1. To encourage; to favor; to approve; to aid; to abet. [ 1913 Webster ]

This conceit, though countenanced by learned men, is not made out either by experience or reason. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Error supports custom, custom countenances error. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make a show of; to pretend. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Which to these ladies love did countenance. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who countenances, favors, or supports. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ F. contre, fr. L. contra against. Cf. Contra-. ] 1. Contrary; in opposition; in an opposite direction; contrariwise; -- used chiefly with run or go. [ 1913 Webster ]

Running counter to all the rules of virtue. Locks. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In the wrong way; contrary to the right course; as, a hound that runs counter. [ 1913 Webster ]

This is counter, you false Danish dogs! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. At or against the front or face. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Which [ darts ] they never throw counter, but at the back of the flier. Sandys. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. countere, countour, a counter (in sense 1), OF. contere, conteor, fr. conter to count. See Count, v. t. ] 1. One who counts, or reckons up; a calculator; a reckoner. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A piece of metal, ivory, wood, or bone, used in reckoning, in keeping account of games, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

The old gods of our own race whose names . . . serve as counters reckon the days of the week. E. B. Tylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

What comes the wool to? . . . I can not do it without counters. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Money; coin; -- used in contempt. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To lock such rascal counters from his friends. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A prison; either of two prisons formerly in London. [ 1913 Webster ]

Anne Aysavugh . . . imprisoned in the Counter. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A telltale; a contrivance attached to an engine, printing press, or other machine, for the purpose of counting the revolutions or the pulsations. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]