counterrevolution
UK[ˌkaʊn.tə.rev.əˈluː.ʃən]US[ˌkaʊn.t̬ɚ.rev.əˈluː.ʃən]
n
a political or social revolution that aims to reverse the effects of a previous revolution.
n
a movement or action taken to oppose or defeat a revolution.
Morpheme Breakdown
counter
revolution
counter
against
revolution
revolution
Etymology
the word 'counterrevolution' is a modern english compound formed by directly combining the prefix 'counter-' with the noun 'revolution'. the prefix 'counter-' originates from the latin preposition 'contra', meaning 'against' or 'opposite', which entered english via anglo-french. the core noun 'revolution' derives from the latin 'revolutio', itself from the verb 'revolvere' ('to roll back'), which metaphorically evolved to signify a fundamental, often violent, overthrow of a political system. thus, the compound's literal logic is transparent: an action or movement set 'against' a 'revolution', aiming to overturn its changes and restore a prior order.
Analysis
Structure: counter (against) + revolution (revolution)
counter (from latin 'contra', meaning 'against', functioning as a prefix); revolution (from latin 'revolutio', from 'revolvere' meaning 'to roll back', functioning as the core noun).
Examples
the monarchists organized a violent counterrevolution to reclaim the throne.
the new government feared the rise of a counterrevolution from the displaced elites.
historians debate whether the period should be classified as a civil war or a counterrevolution.