contravallation

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UK/ˌkɒntɹəvəˈleɪʃən/US/ˌkɑntɹəvəˈleɪʃən/

noun

A fortification built around a sieged target by the besiegers.

Opposite
circumvallation
OriginFrench contrevallation ← Italian contravvallazione ← Latin contrā →
Scrabble 20
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Meanings

nouncontravallation (plural contravallations)

plural contravallations · alternative countervallation

  1. A fortification built around a sieged target by the besiegers.

    Antonyms: circumvallation

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA fortification built around a sieged target by the besiegers.

Opposite
circumvallation

Origin

  1. Latincontrā
  2. Italiancontravvallazione
  3. Frenchcontrevallation
  4. Englishcontravallation

By surface analysis, contra- + vallation (“rampart”). Possibly from French contrevallation or Italian contravvallazione; in any case, from Latin contrā + vallātiō (from vallare (“to surround with a rampart”), from vallum (“rampart”)).

More words from French, Italian, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with contravallation

informationeducationlocationapplicationassociationadministrationorganizationcorporationregistrationAsianfoundationcommunicationpopulationnavigationstationaccommodationoperationpublicationvacationtransportationevaluationimplementationinstallationnation
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Cite this entry
APA

contravallation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contravallation

MLA

“contravallation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contravallation. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “contravallation,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contravallation.

Source: contravallation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.