v. coun·ter·vailed, coun·ter·vail·ing, coun·ter·vails v.tr. 1. To act against with equal force; counteract. 2. To compensate for; offset. v.intr. To act against an often detrimental influence or power. [Middle English countrevaillen, from Old French contrevaloir, contrevail- : contre-, counter- + valoir, to be worth (from Latin valēre, to be strong; see wal- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] |
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