Countermoved

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Made a move in reply to an opponent's action, typically to block or undercut it in a game or contest
2. Answered a rival's manoeuvre with a manoeuvre of one's own, aimed at neutralising its effect
3. Reacted to an adversary's step by taking a deliberate step designed to offset or reverse it

Etymology: The verb "countermove" is a plain compound: "counter-" joined to "move," so its literal sense is to move against or in opposition to something. The "counter-" element traces back through Old French "contre" and Latin "contrā," meaning "against" or "opposite," which entered English as a prefix in its own right and was then attached to ordinary verbs and nouns, as with "counteract" and "counterattack." The base "move" has a longer and more layered path. It comes from Latin "movēre," meaning to set in motion, which passed through Old French into Middle English as "moven" before settling into the modern form. Combining it with "counter-" produces a word whose meaning is almost literal: a move made in reply to, or to thwart, an opponent's move. This is why the word is most often used in games, chess and military or political contexts, where a response to an opposing action is exactly what is being described.

Synonyms: counteract, countervail