definitions

countervail

[ koun-ter-veyl ]
/ ˌkaʊn tərˈveɪl /
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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

counterpoise, invalidate, neutralize, undo, nullify, counterbalance, counteract, balance

Nearby words

countertraction, countertrade, countertransference, counterturn, countertype, countervail, countervailing duty, counterview, counterweigh, counterweight, counterword

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

Related forms

un·coun·ter·vailed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for countervail

British Dictionary definitions 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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012