Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Counterfeit?

\Coun"ter*feit\ (koun"t?r-f?t), a. [F. contrefait, p. p. of contrefaire to counterfeit; contre (L. contra) + faire to make, fr. L. facere. See {Counter}, adv., and {Fact}.] 1. Representing by imitation or likeness; having a resemblance to something else; portrayed. Look here upon this picture, and on this- The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. --Shak. 2. Fabricated in imitation of something else, with a view to defraud by passing the false copy for genuine or original; as, counterfeit antiques; counterfeit coin. ``No counterfeit gem.'' --Robinson (More's Utopia). 3. Assuming the appearance of something; false; spurious; deceitful; hypocritical; as, a counterfeit philanthropist. ``An arrant counterfeit rascal.'' --Shak. Syn: Forged; fictitious; spurious; false.
\Coun"ter*feit\, n. 1. That which resembles or is like another thing; a likeness; a portrait; a counterpart. Thou drawest a counterfeit Best in all Athens. --Shak. Even Nature's self envied the same, And grudged to see the counterfeit should shame The thing itself. --Spenser. 2. That which is made in imitation of something, with a view to deceive by passing the false for the true; as, the bank note was a counterfeit. Never call a true piece of gold a counterfeit. --Shak. Some of these counterfeits are fabricated with such exquisite taste and skill, that it is the achievement of criticism to distinguish them from originals. --Macaulay. 3. One who pretends to be what he is not; one who personates another; an impostor; a cheat. I fear thou art another counterfeit; And yet, in faith, thou bear'st thee like a king. --Shak.
\Coun"ter*feit\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Counterfeited}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Counterfeiting}.] 1. To imitate, or put on a semblance of; to mimic; as, to counterfeit the voice of another person. Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee At all his jokes, for many a joke had he. --Goldsmith. 2. To imitate with a view to deceiving, by passing the copy for that which is original or genuine; to forge; as, to counterfeit the signature of another, coins, notes, etc.
\Coun"ter*feit\, v. i. 1. To carry on a deception; to dissemble; to feign; to pretend. The knave counterfeits well; a good knave. --Shak. 2. To make counterfeits.