In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
COUNTERVAILS
Verb
countervails
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of countervail
Source: Wiktionary
COUNTERVAIL
Coun`ter*vail" (koun`tr-vl"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countervailed (- vld); p. pr. & vb. n. Countervailing.] Etym: [OF. contrevaloir; contre (L. contra) + valoir to avail, fr. L. valere to be strong, avail. See Vallant.]
Definition: 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.
Coun"ter*vail` (koun"tr-vl`), n.
Definition: 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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Word of the Day
19 September 2024
STIMULATIVE
(adjective) capable of arousing or accelerating physiological or psychological activity or response by a chemical agent
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