I. ˈkau̇ntə(r)ˌvāl, ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷, esp before pause or cons -āəl verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English countrevailen, from Middle French contrevaloir, from contre- counter- + valoir to be worth, from Latin valēre to be strong, healthy, to be worth — more at wield
transitive verb
1. : to compensate for : make up for : furnish or serve as an equivalent to
2. archaic : equal , match
3. : to oppose or exert force against : counteract , offset
the absence of fuss … countervailed any tendency to self-importance — Sylvia T. Warner
intransitive verb
: to exert force against an opposing side
countervailing military power — D.D.Eisenhower
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English countervaille, from countrevailen, v.
archaic : a countervailing power or value : equivalent