countervail

American  

[koun-ter-veyl] / ˌkaʊn tərˈveɪl /

verb (used with object)

1. to act or avail against with equal power, force, or effect; counteract.

   Synonyms:

   neutralize, counterpoise, counterbalance

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

3. Archaic. to equal.

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verb (used without object)

1. to be of equal force in opposition; avail.

countervail British  

/ ˌkaʊntəˈveɪl, ˈkaʊntəˌveɪl /

verb

1. to act or act against with equal power or force

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

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Other Word Forms

• uncountervailed adjective

Etymology

Origin of countervail

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

Example Sentences

We depend on our memory to record, to learn and to recall, and we depend on forgetting to countervail, to sculpt and to squelch our memories.

From New York Times • Mar. 9, 2022

And for years, the company’s actions and public statements have borne the imprint of Musk’s whims, with no moderating force to countervail them.

From Slate • Oct. 2, 2018

To countervail these misleading forces, by means of a fixed rational character built up through meditation and philosophical teaching, was the grand purpose of the Stoic ethical creed.

From Moral Science; a Compendium of Ethics by Bain, Alexander

But whatever becomes of us, we are sure the adversary cannot countervail the King's damages.

From The Loyalists of America and Their Times, Vol. 1 of 2. From 1620-1816 by Ryerson, Egerton

The allowance made to wholesale purchasers will countervail the double voyage.

From The Writings of Thomas Jefferson Library Edition - Vol. 6 (of 20) by Jefferson, Thomas