Surely, the present pleasure of a sinful act is a poor countervail for the bitterness of the review. --South. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
Countervail — 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
countervail — 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
countervail — 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
countervail — 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
countervail — ► 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
countervail — [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
countervail — 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
countervail — 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
countervail — 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
countervail — /kown teuhr vayl /, v.t. 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. v.i. 4. to be of equal force in opposition; avail. [1350 1400; … Universalium
