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.

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[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).]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

countervail

(ˌkaʊntəˈveɪl; ˈkaʊntəˌveɪl)

vb

1. (when: intr, usually foll by against) 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 and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

coun•ter•vail

(ˌkaʊn tərˈveɪl)

v.t.

1. to act against with equal power or effect; counteract.

2. to furnish an equivalent of or a compensation for; offset.

3. Archaic. to equal.

v.i.

4. to be of equal force in opposition; avail.

[1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French countrevail-, tonic s. (subjunctive) of countrevaloir to equal, be comparable to < Latin phrase contrā valēre to be of worth against (someone or something). See counter-, -valent]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

countervail

Past participle: countervailed
Gerund: countervailing

Imperative

countervail

countervail

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	countervail - compensate for or counterbalance; "offset deposits and withdrawals" offset balance, equilibrise, equilibrize, equilibrate - bring into balance or equilibrium; "She has to balance work and her domestic duties"; "balance the two weights"
	2.	countervail - oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions; "This will counteract the foolish actions of my colleagues" counteract, counterbalance, neutralize override - counteract the normal operation of (an automatic gear shift in a vehicle) cancel, offset, set off - make up for; "His skills offset his opponent's superior strength"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

countervail

verb

1. To act as an equalizing weight or force to:

balance, compensate, counteract, counterbalance, counterpoise, make up, offset, set off.

2. To make up for:

balance, compensate, counterbalance, counterpoise, neutralize, offset, outweigh, redeem, set off.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.