COUNTERVAIL


Meaning of COUNTERVAIL in English

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

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.