countermand

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈkaʊntɚˌmænd/ UK /ˌkaʊntəˈmɑːnd/ See IPA manual

Freq #61832

Meanings

1

verb
To revoke (a former command); to cancel or rescind by giving an order contrary to one previously given.

Near-synonym: counteract.
2

verb
To counteract, to act against, to frustrate.

Early on, Ezra gives her a lesson to countermand the endless female impulse to apologise: “Darling, don’t continually say ‘I’m sorry’. Next time you feel like saying ‘I’m sorry’, instead say ‘Fuck you’.”.
3

verb
To prohibit (a course of action or behavior).

Avicen countermands letting blood in choleric bodles.
4

verb
To oppose or revoke the command of (someone).

For us to alter anything, is to lift ourselves against God; and, as it were, to countermand him.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to revoke (a former... cancel counteract override rescind veto

3 verb · to prohibit (a course of... forbid prohibit

Word family

Derived forms countermandablecountermandercountermandmentuncountermanded

Related forms counterargue

Etymology

From Old French contremander, from Medieval Latin contramandō, from contra + mandō (“to order; to command”).

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# countermand

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈkaʊntɚˌmænd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌkaʊntəˈmɑːnd/
**Frequency rank:** 61832

## Meanings
1. To revoke (a former command); to cancel or rescind by giving an order contrary to one previously given.
2. To counteract, to act against, to frustrate.
3. To prohibit (a course of action or behavior).
4. To oppose or revoke the command of (someone).

## Examples
- Near-synonym: counteract.
- Early on, Ezra gives her a lesson to countermand the endless female impulse to apologise: “Darling, don’t continually say ‘I’m sorry’. Next time you feel like saying ‘I’m sorry’, instead say ‘Fuck you’.”.
- Avicen countermands letting blood in choleric bodles.
- For us to alter anything, is to lift ourselves against God; and, as it were, to countermand him.

## Synonyms
- cancel
- counteract
- override
- rescind
- veto
- forbid
- prohibit

## Derived Forms
- countermandable
- countermander
- countermandment
- uncountermanded

## Related Forms
- counterargue

## Etymology
From Old French contremander, from Medieval Latin contramandō, from contra + mandō (“to order; to command”).

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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