How Do You Spell CONTRAVALLATION?

Pronunciation: [kˌɒntɹəvalˈe͡ɪʃən] (IPA)

Contravallation is a complex term that describes the fortifications built around a besieged town or city. The word is spelled as [kɒntrəvəˈleɪʃn] in IPA phonetic transcription. The combination of letters, especially the "tr" and "v" sounds, can make the pronunciation of this word challenging for non-native speakers. It's important to practice the correct pronunciation to avoid confusion and miscommunication when discussing military history or architecture. Overall, contravallation is a fascinating word with a rich linguistic history that shouldn't be overlooked.

CONTRAVALLATION Meaning and Definition

1. Contravallation is a military strategy and method of fortification used to protect an army during a siege or in defensive operations. It involves the construction of a defensive structure around a besieged place or a defensive position to provide additional protection for the defending forces.

   The contravallation fortification typically consists of a continuous line of moats, trenches, and ramparts, often reinforced by walls or wooden palisades. These defensive barriers serve to create a physical obstacle that hinders the advancement of the enemy forces and provides a secure area for the defending troops. Contravallation aims to minimize the effectiveness of artillery and enemy attacks, forcing the besieging army to expend more resources and time in their siege attempts.

   The construction of contravallation involves careful planning and engineering, as well as the strategic positioning of defensive structures. It requires the deployment of personnel who specialize in fortifications and the use of available resources, such as earth, wood, or stones, to fortify the area effectively.

   The term "contravallation" derives from the Latin words "contra" meaning "against" and "vallum" meaning "rampart" or "wall." The practice of contravallation has been employed throughout history by various civilizations and military leaders to protect their forces during sieges or when facing a superior enemy. It remains an important concept in military strategy and defensive operations, embodying the principle of fortifying positions to enhance the defense of military forces.

2. In fort., a trench guarded by a parapet, formed to secure the besiegers from the sallies of the besieged.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for CONTRAVALLATION

• xontravallation
• vontravallation
• fontravallation
• dontravallation
• cintravallation
• ckntravallation
• clntravallation
• cpntravallation
• c0ntravallation
• c9ntravallation
• cobtravallation
• comtravallation
• cojtravallation
• cohtravallation
• conrravallation
• confravallation
• congravallation
• conyravallation
• con6ravallation
• con5ravallation

Etymology of CONTRAVALLATION

The word "contravallation" originated from two Latin roots: "contra", meaning "against", and "vallum", meaning "wall" or "rampart". In ancient Roman military terminology, a "vallum" referred to a defensive fortification that consisted of an embankment or mound of earth. The prefix "contra" signifies opposition or counteraction. Therefore, "contravallation" can be understood as the act of constructing fortifications against or opposing an enemy force. The term is commonly used in the context of military strategy and fortification.

Plural form of CONTRAVALLATION is CONTRAVALLATIONS