countermarch

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: coun=ter=march

CIDE DICTIONARY

countermarch, v. i. 

 To march back, or to march in reversed order.  [1913 Webster]
"The two armies marched and countermarched, drew near and receded."  [1913 Webster]

countermarch, n. 

•  A marching back; retrocession.  [1913 Webster]
•  An evolution by which a body of troops change front or reverse the direction of march while retaining the same men in the front rank; also, a movement by which the rear rank becomes the front one, either with or without changing the right to the left.  [1913 Webster]
•  A change of measures; alteration of conduct.  [1913 Webster]

  "Such countermarches and retractions as we do not willingly impute to wisdom."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

countermarch, v. & n.
--v.intr. & tr. esp. Mil. march or cause to march in the opposite direction, e.g. with the front marchers turning and marching back through the ranks.
--n. an act of countermarching.

ROGET THESAURUS

countermarch

Regression

VB recede, regrade, return, revert, retreat, retire, retrograde, retrocede, back out, back down, balk, crawfish, crawl, withdraw, rebound, go back, come back, turn back, hark back, draw back, fall back, get back, put back, run back, lose ground, fall astern, drop astern, backwater, put about, backtrack, take the back track, veer round, double, wheel, countermarch, ebb, regurgitate, jib, shrink, shy, turn tail, turn round, turn upon one's heel, turn one's back upon, retrace one's steps, dance the back step, sound a retreat, beat a retreat, go home.