First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1countermand
verb coun·ter·mand \ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌmand, ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈ\
: to cancel (an order) especially by giving a new order
Full Definition of COUNTERMAND
transitive verb
1
: to revoke (a command) by a contrary order
2
: to recall or order back by a superseding contrary order <countermand reinforcements>
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Origin of COUNTERMAND
Middle English countermaunden, from Anglo-French cuntremander, from cuntre- counter- + mander to command, from Latin mandare — more at mandate
Rhymes with COUNTERMAND
ampersand, baby grand, bear a hand, beforehand, behindhand, bellyband, belly-land, borderland, bottomland, cap in hand, concert grand, confirmand, contraband, Damavand, Dixieland, ductless gland, eldest hand, fairyland, fatherland, force one's hand, forestland, four-in-hand, garage band, gastric gland, Gelderland, graduand, hand in hand, hand-to-hand, hand to hand, helping hand, high command, hinterland, Holy Land, Krugerrand, lotusland, meadowland, minute hand, motherland, Nagaland, narrowband, no-man's-land, on demand, one-man band, one-night stand, operand, ordinand, out of hand, overhand, overland, parlor grand, pastureland, promised land, prostate gland, public land, radicand, reprimand, Rio Grande, rubber band, running hand, saraband, secondhand, Swaziland, tableland, taxi stand, timberland, Togoland, try one's hand, underhand, undermanned, understand, wonderland, Zululand
2countermand
noun coun·ter·mand \ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌmand\
Definition of COUNTERMAND
1
: a contrary order
2
: the revocation of an order or command
First Known Use of COUNTERMAND
1548
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