countermarch

American  

[koun-ter-mahrch, koun-ter-mahrch, koun-ter-mahrch] / ˈkaʊn tərˌmɑrtʃ, ˌkaʊn tərˈmɑrtʃ, ˈkaʊn tərˌmɑrtʃ /

noun

1. a march back over the same ground.

2. a complete reversal of conduct or measures.

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verb (used without object)

1. to execute a countermarch.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to countermarch.

countermarch British  

/ ˈkaʊntəˌmɑːtʃ /

verb

1. military

   1. to march or cause to march back along the same route

   2. to change the order of soldiers during a march

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noun

1. the act or instance of countermarching

2. a reversal of method, conduct, etc

Etymology

Origin of countermarch

First recorded in 1590–1600; counter- + march ¹

Example Sentences

And when the townspeople drive them out of town with a countermarch, it’s very moving.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 24, 2013

The Leningrad protest provoked a countermarch by some 40,000 incensed citizens who proclaimed their support for Gorbachev's efforts to rejuvenate the party through open criticism.

From Time Magazine Archive

From a tense week of legal march and countermarch, political charge and countercharge, the U.S. emerged one big step behind its starting point.

From Time Magazine Archive

A year ago the comrades got orders to countermarch into the A.V.C.

From Time Magazine Archive

A countermarch of a mile brought us to Lettersburg, a poor village of a dozen indifferent houses, through which we passed the evening before almost without noticing it.

From Our campaign around Gettysburg Being a memorial of what was endured, suffered and accomplished by the Twenty-third regiment (N. Y. S. N. G.) and other regiments associated with them, in their Pennsylvania and Maryland campaign, during the second rebel invasion of the loyal states in June-July, 1863 by Lockwood, John