Crossword clues for countersign
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Countersign \Coun`ter*sign"\ (-s?n`; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countersigned (-s?nd`); p. pr. & vb. n. Countersigning.] To sign on the opposite side of (an instrument or writing); hence, to sign in addition to the signature of a principal or superior, in order to attest the authenticity of a writing.
Countersign \Coun"ter*sign`\, a.
The signature of a secretary or other officer to a writing signed by a principal or superior, to attest its authenticity.
(Mil.) A private signal, word, or phrase, which must be given in order to pass a sentry; a watchword.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
n. 1 a second signature added to a document to affirm the validity of the signature of the first person 2 The response to a sign or signal. vb. 1 (context transitive English) To sign on the opposite side of (an instrument or writing). 2 (context transitive by extension English) to add a second signature to a document, affirming the validity of the signature of another person
WordNet
n. a secret word or phrase known only to a restricted group; "he forgot the password" [syn: password, watchword, word, parole]
a second confirming signature endorsing a document already signed [syn: countersignature]
v. add one's signature to after another's to attest authenticity; "You must countersign on this line of the contract"
Wikipedia
In military terminology, a countersign is a sign, word, or any other signal previously agreed upon and required to be exchanged between a sentry or guard and anybody approaching his or her post. The term usually encompasses both the sign given by the approaching party as well as the sentry's reply. However, in some armies, the countersign is strictly the reply of the sentry to the password given by the person approaching. A well-known sign/countersign used by the Allied forces on D-Day during World War II: the challenge/sign was "flash", the password "thunder", and the countersign (to challenge the person giving the first code word) "Welcome".
Countersigning means writing a second signature onto a document. For example, a contract or other official document signed by the representative of a company may be countersigned by his supervisor to verify the authority of the representative. Also, a money order or other financial instrument may be signed once upon receipt, then signed again by the same person when presented for payment, as an indication that the bearer is the same person who originally received the item, and not a thief who has stolen the item before it could be carried to the place where it was to be presented.
An example of where a countersignature is needed is with UK passport applications.
In some constitutional monarchies and parliamentary republics, an order by the head of state (monarch or president) is not valid unless countersigned by the head of government or, in case of promulgation of a parliamentary resolution, a presiding officer of the legislature.
Countersign may refer to one of the following :
- Countersign (military), a sign used by a sentry or guard.
- Countersign (legal), the writing of a second signature onto a document.
Usage examples of "countersign".
On the stone is written the countersign that all hillsmen heed, and the tribe-call I know also.
Complete AVO identity cards for both, and a document, on the Allam Vedelmi Hatosag's own headed, unreproduceable notepaper, signed by Fermint and countersigned by a cabinet minister, with the appropriate and correct stamps for each office, authorising the Commandant of the Szarhaza prison to hand over Professor Harold Jennings to the bearers of the document.
But it takes a presidential order and even then it has to be countersigned by Security.
The act is countersigned by the Chief, and you know that an act countersigned by the Chief is absolutely irrevocable.
The document authorizing the Last Trump was countersigned by the Chief, and you know that it is irrevocable for that reason.
Lincoln knew that Stanton had countersigned McClellan's direction to Halleck to arrest Grant if he resumed the habits that had caused him to quit the army years before.
Even more astonishing was that it was countersigned across the bottom: Adolf Hitler, Fuhrer und Reichskanzler.
All the orders that you write on any patient must be countersigned by myself or one of the two interns on the service, whom you will meet presently.
If you write orders in the ICU they have to be countersigned the moment you write them.
Orders for patients on the ward can be countersigned en masse at various times during the day.
Back came whole Himalayas of completed lists for checking, recopying, rechecking, review and countersigning once again.
I knew the signs and countersigns for entry into the stronghold through the sea gate.
We had, after all, known the signs and countersigns, and, presumably, those of the holding of Policrates would not be familiar with all of the men or ships of Ragnar Voskjard.
I said, "it was you yourself who gave to me the signs and countersigns, when I posed as the courier of Ragnar Voskjard.
More importantly, she would doubtless be carrying papers linking her with Policrates, such papers as the signs and countersigns whereby the actions of the joint pirate fleets might be integrated and directed.