counter-word

There were probably government spies among them, but the spies undoubtedly already knew the rigmarole of word and counter-word; it would be impossible to keep such a formula secret from men who have nothing to do but ferret out such matters.

Jimgrim Mundy, Talbot, 1879-1940 1931

If, by the chances that condition language-making, it acquires a special and limited meaning, not served by any existing locution, it enters into sound idiom and is presently wholly legitimatized; if, on the contrary, it is adopted by the populace as a counter-word and employed with such banal imitativeness that it soon loses any definite significance whatever, then it remains slang and is avoided by the finical.

Chapter 11. American Slang. 1. Its Origin and Nature Henry Louis 1921

There was a time, perhaps, when the familiar American counter-word, proposition, was slang; its use seems to have originated in the world of business, and it was soon afterward adopted by the sporting fraternity.

Chapter 11. American Slang. 1. Its Origin and Nature Henry Louis 1921

So familiar has it become, in fact, that it is a mere counter-word, without intelligible significance.

Chapter 4. American and English Today. 5. Expletives and Forbidden Words Henry Louis 1921

Unhappily the Black-artist has forgot the counter-word, with which he might command this flood of sprites again to ebb.

Chapter IX. Book III 1917

There was a great show of looking in each other's eyes and muttering under the breath some word and counter-word.

The Winds of the World Talbot Mundy 1909

Arguments that occurred not to me, upon my side of the question, _he_ stated at length and with force; I heard, and, till he replied to them, I deemed they were unanswerable: the reply came, and I had no counter-word.

Devereux — Complete Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

I deemed they were unanswerable: the reply came, and I had no counter-word.

Devereux — Volume 05 Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

But Reason, employed in such an inquiry, can do but half the work: she is like the Conjuror that has pronounced the spell of invocation, but has forgot the counter-word; spectres and shadowy forms come crowding at his summons; in endless multitudes they press and hover round his magic circle, and the terror-struck Black-artist cannot lay them.

The Life of Friedrich Schiller Comprehending an Examination of His Works Thomas Carlyle 1838

At the hour mentioned Henri was on the boulevard, saw the carriage, and gave the counter-word to a man who looked to him like the mulatto.

The Thirteen Honor�� de Balzac 1824