countervail
Use Countervail in a sentence
tərˈveɪl 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; 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
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
Synonyms
1. counterbalance, counterpoise, neutralize.
1. counterbalance, counterpoise, neutralize.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To countervail
00:10
Countervail
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is skedaddle. Does it mean:
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
countervail (ˌkaʊntəˈveɪl, ˈkaʊntəˌveɪl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb (when intr, | |
| 1. | to act or act against with equal power or force |
| 2. | (tr) to make up for; compensate; offset |
| [C14: from Old French contrevaloir, from Latin contrā valēre, from contrā against + valēre to be strong] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
To simply divert additional funds for use at regulatory discretion will not countervail the trade gap.
The extent to which these various factors countervail each other is uncertain.
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