counter-

Opposition, retaliation, or rivalry.

Anglo-Norman French countre‑, from Latin contra, against.

Examples include counterbalance, counterculture, counterfactual, counterfoil, counterpart, counterpoint, and counterweight. A small number originated in French from Latin roots, such as counterfeit (Latin facere, to make) and counterpoise (Latin pensum, weight). Some are usually hyphenated: counter-attack, Counter-Reformation, counter-espionage, counter-intuitive. See also contra‑.