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.
