countervail

  • 1Countervail — Coun ter*vail (koun t?r v?l ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Countervailed} ( v?ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Countervailing}.] [OF. contrevaloir; contre (L. contra) + valoir to avail, fr. L. valere to be strong, avail. See {Vallant}.] To act against with equal… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2Countervail — Coun ter*vail (koun t?r v?l ), n. Power or value sufficient to obviate any effect; equal weight, strength, or value; equivalent; compensation; requital. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Surely, the present pleasure of a sinful act is a poor countervail for… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3countervail — I verb abrogate, act against with equal force, agitate against, alter, avail against, balance, be contrary, cancel, cancel out, check, conflict with, confute, contradict, contravene, counter, counteract, counterpoise, cross, damage, destroy,… …

    Law dictionary

  • 4countervail — late 14c., to be worth as much as, also to prevail against, from Anglo Fr. countrevaloir, O.Fr. contrevaloir to be effective against, be comparable to, from Latin phrase contra valere to be worth against (see CONTRA (Cf. contra ) and VALIANT (Cf …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 5countervail — vb offset, balance, *compensate, counterbalance, counterpoise Analogous words: *correct (sense 1): counteract, *neutralize, negative: overcome, surmount (see CONQUER): foil, thwart, *frustrate …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 6countervail — ► VERB (usu. countervailing) ▪ offset the effect of (something) by countering it with something of equal force. ORIGIN from Latin contra valere be of worth against …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7countervail — [kount΄ər vāl′, kount′ər vāl΄] vt. [ME countrevailen < OFr contrevaloir < contre (see COUNTER2) + valoir, to avail < L valere, to be strong: see VALUE] 1. to make up for; compensate 2. to counteract; be successful, useful, etc. against;… …

    English World dictionary

  • 8countervail — To counterbalance; to avail against with equal force or virtue; to compensate for, or serve as an equivalent of or substitute for countervailing equity (equity) @ countervail livery At common law, a release was a form of transfer of real estate… …

    Black's law dictionary

  • 9countervail — To counterbalance; to avail against with equal force or virtue; to compensate for, or serve as an equivalent of or substitute for countervailing equity (equity) @ countervail livery At common law, a release was a form of transfer of real estate… …

    Black's law dictionary

  • 10countervail — verb Etymology: Middle English countrevailen, from Anglo French cuntrevaloir, from cuntre counter + valoir to be worth, from Latin valēre more at wield Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to compensate for 2 …

    New Collegiate Dictionary