Counteract
/ˌkaʊntərˈækt/noun
To act against and reduce or neutralize the effect of something.
Did you know?The word is a direct Latin-style formation from counter- plus act, and its power comes from the ancient idea that an opposing deed can neutralize another deed.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
counteracten
“to act against or in opposition to”
16th Century
English
counteract
“to oppose by an opposite action”
Latin
Latin
contra
“against, opposite”
Latin
Latin
agere
“to drive, do, act”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ag-
“to drive, lead, move”
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