countervail

[ koun-ter-veyl ]
See synonyms for: countervailcountervailing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to act or avail against with equal power, force, or effect; counteract.

  2. to furnish an equivalent of or a compensation for; offset.

  1. Archaic. to equal.

verb (used without object)
  1. to be of equal force in opposition; avail.

Origin of countervail

1
1350–1400; Middle English contrevailen<Anglo-French countrevail-, tonic stem (subjunctive) of countrevaloir to equal, be comparable to <Latin phrase contrā valēre to be of worth against (someone or something). See counter-, -valent

Other words for countervail

Other words from countervail

  • un·coun·ter·vailed, adjective

Words Nearby countervail

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use countervail in a sentence

  • The thegn is a twelve hundred man; his wergild and his oath countervail those of six ceorls.

    Domesday Book and Beyond | Frederic William Maitland
  • The Author of all things, though besought, did not so co-operate as to countervail the legitimate action of natural powers.

British Dictionary definitions for countervail

countervail

/ (ˌkaʊntəˈveɪl, ˈkaʊntəˌveɪl) /


verb
  1. (when intr, usually foll by against) to act or act against with equal power or force

  2. (tr) to make up for; compensate; offset

Origin of countervail

1
C14: from Old French contrevaloir, from Latin contrā valēre, from contrā against + valēre to be strong

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012