countervail
[ koun-ter-veyl ]
/ ˌkaʊn tərˈveɪl /
verb (used with object)
to act or avail against with equal power, force, or effect; counteract.
to furnish an equivalent of or a compensation for; offset.
Archaic. to equal.
verb (used without object)
to be of equal force in opposition; avail.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
- countertraction,
- countertrade,
- countertransference,
- counterturn,
- countertype,
- countervailing,
- countervailing duty,
- counterview,
- counterweigh,
- counterweight
Origin of countervail
SYNONYMS FOR countervail
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for countervail
countervail
/ (ˌkaʊntəˈveɪl, ˈkaʊntəˌveɪl) /
verb
(when intr, usually foll by against) to act or act against with equal power or force
(tr) to make up for; compensate; offset
Word Origin for countervail
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
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countervail
late 14c., "to be worth as much as," also "to prevail against," from Anglo-French countrevaloir, Old French contrevaloir "to be effective against, be comparable to," from Latin phrase contra valere "to be worth against" (see contra- and valiant). Related: Countervailing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper