Also 4–6 countre-, countyr-, cowntir-, contre-, conter-, contur-, 4–7 -vaile, -vayle, -vaille, -vale. [a. AF. countrevaloir = OF. contrevaloir (pres. subj. contrevaille):—L. phrase contrā valēre to be of worth against.]
† 1. trans. To be equivalent to in value. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 392. Þes tiþis and þis offryngis, þe whiche as I suppose cowntirvaylen þe seculer lordis rentis.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 569. Iewellys & other stuffe yt countyruayled the sayd value.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop. (Arb.), 45. All the goodes in the worlde are not hable to counteruayle mans life.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, V. § 4. 240. Such a pretious Iewell, as in warlike conceits, a million of golde would not countervaile.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. v. § 10. As a Shilling passing in Payment countervaileth six two-pences.
2. To equal, match, come up to. arch.
1530. Palsgr., 801. Whan the frensche tonge hathe many adverbes that contrevaile one adverbe in englyshe.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1673), 133. Notwithstanding they countervail not the Greyhound in greatness.
1635. N. Carpenter, Geog. Del., II. ix. 164. That these vapours counteruaile the water perpetually brought in, is … very improbable.
1732. Pope, Ess. Man, I. Argt. Reason alone countervails all the other faculties.
1841. Emerson, Lect., Times, Wks. (Bohn), II. 250. An incalculable energy which countervails all other forces in nature.
† b. To make an equivalent return for; to reciprocate. Obs.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus. (1877), 63. Though I be vnable with any benefit to counteruail your great pains.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1295/2. So much the lesse hope haue we … to counteruaile the huge sea of the rest of your benefits.
1610–2. Rowlands, Four Knaves (Percy Soc.), 7. Whome you shall ready finde To countervaile your curtesie.
1633. Heywood, Eng. Trav., III. Wks. 1874, IV. 41. This, and more Many degrees, can neuer counteruaile The oft and frequent welcomes giuen my sonne.
† 3. To act against or resist with equal force; to counterbalance. Obs.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. vi. 29. He fiersly at him flew … Who, soone prepared to field, his sword forth drew, And him with equall valew countervayld.
1641. Wilkins, Math. Magick, II. xv. (1648), 292. The outward streams … must be of so much force as to countervail all that weight.
1669. Boyle, Contn. New Exp., I. xlvii. (1682), 163. The Air in the Bladder … was able by its Pressure to countervaile the weight of 42 pound.
† b. To balance against any force; to ballast. Obs. rare.
1630. J. Levett, Ordering of Bees (1634), 70. If any tempest suddenly arise, they [bees] countervaile themselues with little stones, flying in the wind as neere the ground as may be.
4. fig. To avail or prevail against; to have force or be of effect against; to counterbalance.
1547. J. Harrison, Exhort. Scottes, 226. Thoughe prescripcion serued in that case … yet the warres made from tyme to tyme, counteruaile a possession thereof.
c. 1560. Abp. Parker, Psalter lxxxiii. 237. Gods hand them all so countervaylde.
1674. Govt. Tongue, Pref. § 5. These few Stones and Sling … may countervail the massive armour, of the uncircumcised Philistin.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 404. No certificate of a judge was allowed … to countervail the oath of the jury.
1849. Grote, Greece, II. lv. (1862), V. 6. Advantage … which had to a certain extent been countervailed by subsequent losses.
1859. Kingsley, Agric. Crisis, Misc. II. 170. No subsequent failures … can countervail that fact.
5. To compensate, make up for (damage, trouble, loss, etc.). Formerly said also of persons.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 270. He … countrevaileth The harm, that he hem so travaileth.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cxxxviii. 167. The good seruyce that ye haue done, and your valyantnesse … must counteruayle your trespasse, and be taken for your excuse.
1586. Cogan, Haven Health, iii. (1636), 23. God … hath provided food … to restore and countervaile … the continual impairing … of our flesh.
1611. Bible, Esther vii. 4. Although the enemy could not counteruaile the kings dammage.
1713. Addison, Guardian, No. 135, ¶ 1. It … more than countervails all the calamities and afflictions which can possibly befal us.
1834. Lytton, Pompeii, 252. What hope for myself could countervail the despair for thee?
1865. Grote, Plato, I. vi. 273. A full breadth of positive philosophy to countervail his own negative fertility.
6. intr. a. To be of equal force or weight on the contrary side; to avail against (with, for obs.)
1393. Gower, Conf., Prol. I. 28. Where Rome than wolde assaile, There mighte nothing contrevaile.
1536. Starkey, Lett., in England, p. xl. Albehyt … suffycyent to conturvayle agayn al owtward displesure.
1551. Recorde, Cast. Knowl. (1556), 233. Alwaies the one signe counteruailyng with his contrary, there is euermore one halfe of the Zodiake aboue the Horizonte.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus. (1877), 27. There is no sinne so greeuous, which the grace and mercy of God is not able to counteruaile withal.
1649. Milton, Eikon., xii. (1851), 433. Against which testimonies … the bare denyall of one man … cannot in any reason countervaile.
1660. Ingelo, Bentiv. & Urania, I. (1682), 116. Will the treading a few steps countervail for perseverance in our journey?
1831. Brewster, Newton (1855), I. iv. 108. What name … could countervail against the High Priest of Science.
† b. To be equivalent or equal; to vie with. Obs.
1530. Calisto & Melib., in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 61. [He] would say in comparison nothing countervails.
1570. Ascham, Scholem. (Arb.), 102. Surelie the proffet … wold conteruaile wyth the toile.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 81 b. A certeine man … who rashly … seemeth to countervaile with the politicke prowesse of Themystocles.
