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countersign

[ noun, verb koun-ter-sahyn; verb also koun-ter-sahyn ]
/ noun, verb ˈkaʊn tərˌsaɪn; verb also ˌkaʊn tərˈsaɪn /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR countersign ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a sign used in reply to another sign.
Military. a secret sign that must be given by authorized persons seeking admission through a guarded area.
a signature added to another signature, especially for authentication.

verb (used with object)

to sign (a document that has been signed by someone else), especially in confirmation or authentication.

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Origin of countersign

1585–95; counter- + sign, modeled on Middle French contresigne, or its source, Old Italian contrasegno
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to countersign

authorize, certify, corroborate, signature, confirm, sign, mark, watchword, seal, password

Example sentences from the Web for countersign

British Dictionary definitions for countersign

countersign

verb (ˈkaʊntəˌsaɪn, ˌkaʊntəˈsaɪn)

(tr) to sign (a document already signed by another)

noun (ˈkaʊntəˌsaɪn)

Also called: countersignature the signature so written
a secret sign given in response to another sign
mainly military a password
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012