Hypertext Webster Gateway: "countervail"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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 force, power, or effect; to thwart
or overcome by such action; to furnish an equivalent to or
for; to counterbalance; to compensate.
Upon balancing the account, the profit at last will
hardly countervail the inconveniences that go allong
with it. --L'Estrange.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Countervail \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.]
Surely, the present pleasure of a sinful act is a poor
countervail for the bitterness of the review. --South.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
countervail
v 1: compensate for or counterbalance; "offset deposits and
withdrawals" [syn: {offset}]
2: oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions;
"This will counteract the foolish actions of my
colleagues" [syn: {counteract}, {neutralize}, {counterbalance}]
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