COUNTERSIGN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does countersign mean? 

• COUNTERSIGN (noun)
  The noun COUNTERSIGN has 2 senses:

1. a secret word or phrase known only to a restricted group

2. a second confirming signature endorsing a document already signed

  Familiarity information: COUNTERSIGN used as a noun is rare.

• COUNTERSIGN (verb)
  The verb COUNTERSIGN has 1 sense:

1. add one's signature to after another's to attest authenticity

  Familiarity information: COUNTERSIGN used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COUNTERSIGN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A secret word or phrase known only to a restricted group

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

countersign; parole; password; watchword; word

Context example:

he forgot the password

Hypernyms ("countersign" is a kind of...):

arcanum; secret (information known only to a special group)

positive identification (evidence proving that you are who you say you are; evidence establishing that you are among the group of people already known to the system; recognition by the system leads to acceptance)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A second confirming signature endorsing a document already signed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

countersign; countersignature

Hypernyms ("countersign" is a kind of...):

signature (your name written in your own handwriting)

Derivation:

countersign (add one's signature to after another's to attest authenticity)

• COUNTERSIGN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they countersign    ... he / she / it countersigns   
Past simple: countersigned   
Past participle: countersigned   
-ing form: countersigning   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Add one's signature to after another's to attest authenticity

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

You must countersign on this line of the contract

Hypernyms (to "countersign" is one way to...):

sign (be engaged by a written agreement)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

countersign; countersignature (a second confirming signature endorsing a document already signed)