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countervail

 - 2 dictionary results

coun⋅ter⋅vail

  [koun-ter-veyl]
Use countervail in a Sentence
–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.
3. Archaic. to equal.
–verb (used without object)
4. to be of equal force in opposition; avail.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME contrevailen < AF countrevail-, tonic s. (subj.) of countrevaloir to equal, be comparable to < L phrase contrā valēre to be of worth against (someone or something). See counter-, -valent

Synonyms:
1. counterbalance, counterpoise, neutralize.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To countervail
coun·ter·vail   (koun'tər-vāl', koun'tər-vāl')   
v.   coun·ter·vailed, coun·ter·vail·ing, coun·ter·vails

v.   tr.

  1. To act against with equal force; counteract.

  2. To compensate for; offset.

v.   intr.
To act against an often detrimental influence or power.

[Middle English countrevaillen, from Old French contrevaloir, contrevail- : contre-, counter- + valoir, to be worth (from Latin valēre, to be strong; see wal- in Indo-European roots).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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