Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COUN'TER-POINT, n. [Fr. contrepointe; Arm. contrepoentenn; It. contrappunto; contre and point.]

1. A coverlet; a cover for a bed, stitched or woven in squares; written corruptly counterpane.
2. In music, counterpoint is when the musical characters by which the notes in each part are signified, are placed in such a manner, each with respect to each, as to show how the parts answer one to another. Hence counterpoint in composition is the art of combining and modulating consonant sounds. – Encyc. Busby.
3. An opposite point. – Sandys.