Works against or opposes something to reduce or prevent its effect.
From counter- (against) + act (to do). The prefix 'counter' comes from Latin 'contra' meaning 'against.' This word emerged in English around the 1600s to describe actions that directly oppose other actions.
Your immune system counteracts infections by fighting off bacteria and viruses—it's literally your body saying 'no way' to germs trying to make you sick. The word 'counter' appears in over 500 English words, making it one of our most productive prefixes.
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