Meaning of countersense | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An opposite meaning.
   countable, uncountable
2. A nonsensical idea; a contradiction in terms; something that contradicts an established principle, architectural or musical style, etc.
   countable, uncountable

Examples

“Moreover, I find there are ſome Words now in French which are turn'd to a counterſenſe, as we uſe the Dutch Word Crank in Engliſh to be well-diſpos'd, which in the Original ſignifieth to be ſick; ſo in French, Cocu is taken for one whoſe Wife is light, and hath made him a paſſive Cuckold; whereas clean contrary, Cocu, which is the Cuckoo, doth uſe to lay her Eggs in another Birds Neſt.”

“But in order to gauge the concept of Evil in all its forms we must compare it with the corresponding forms of Good. For the law of relativity applies here as elsewhere, giving us sense and countersense, thesis and antithesis, positive and negative.”

“Panurge's comedy is the agony of indecision as he struggles obstinately and vainly to interpret every unfavorable omen in its countersense, to substitute his willful imagining for reality and fate.”

“On that line we reach simply the old countersense: "All is Reality" is as meaningless a proposition as "All is Illusion."”

“A state theatre, where it exists in a democratic country, is always a legacy from an autocratic past. If it be a worthy and well-managed theatre, to which popular sentiment is habituated, it is no doubt a highly desirable legacy. But for a democracy, and especially an Anglo-Saxon democracy, to set about creating such a theatre would be, I think, a countersense.”

“This Introit is to be sung broadly, but always without heaviness, and almost in half voice, without great nuances, and in a rather low tonality. It would give a serious countersense to sing it with a great cry of joy, and to give it "éclat" under the pretext that "it is Easter".”

CEFR level