'counter-principled' originates from the prefix 'counter-' (from Old French 'contre', from Latin 'contra') meaning 'against' combined with 'principled', which derives from 'principle' (Latin 'principium') where 'principium' meant 'beginning, basis'.

'counter-' entered English via Old French 'contre' (from Latin 'contra') used to form compounds meaning 'against'; 'principle' comes from Latin 'principium' and developed into English 'principle' and the adjective 'principled'; the compound 'counter-principled' is a modern English formation combining these elements to mean 'against principles'.

The components originally meant 'against' (for 'counter-') and 'beginning/basis' (for 'principium'); when combined in modern English they convey the idea 'acting against principles', a meaning consistent with the parts but used as a descriptive adjective.