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

No time was to be lost, and measures were immediately taken to countervail these designs.

From Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 by Roby, John

And I will bring to you them that shall mightily and to the hilt against all countervail and denial prove that Privy Seal is a false and damnable traitor to thee and this goodly realm.

From Privy Seal His Last Venture by Ford, Ford Madox

My care doth countervail that care of thine, And yet my Chloris draws her angry breath; My hopes still hoping hopeless now repine, For living she doth add to me but death.

From Elizabethan Sonnet Cycles: Idea, Fidesa and Chloris by Crow, Martha Foote