contravallation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely rare/ObsolescentSpecialized technical/historical
Quick answer
What does “contravallation” mean?
A line of fortification or entrenchment built by besieging forces facing outward to protect against attack by a relieving force.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A line of fortification or entrenchment built by besieging forces facing outward to protect against attack by a relieving force.
The act or process of constructing such an outer defensive line. By extension, any line of defense or barrier established to counteract an opposing force.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No discernible difference in usage between UK and US English, as the term is equally rare in both.
Connotations
Purely historical, technical, and formal.
Frequency
Effectively never used in modern language outside of detailed historical discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “contravallation” in a Sentence
The general ordered the construction of [a contravallation].They built [a contravallation] facing outward.[Contravallation] was a standard siege technique.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “contravallation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The besiegers had to contravallate their position to prepare for the enemy relief army.
American English
- The besiegers had to contravallate their position to prepare for the enemy relief force.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Exclusively in historical military studies.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Military history and siegecraft terminology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “contravallation”
- Confusing it with 'circumvallation' (the inner line).
- Using it in a modern context.
- Misspelling as 'contravalation' (missing an 'l').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an obsolescent historical term, only encountered in specialized texts on military history or historical fiction.
Circumvallation is an inner line of fortifications facing the besieged place. Contravallation is an outer line of fortifications built by the besiegers, facing away from the city to protect against external relief armies.
While highly unusual, it could theoretically be used metaphorically to describe a defensive barrier erected against external opposition in a non-military context, but this would be a very creative and rare usage.
It is most closely associated with classical (Roman) and early modern siege warfare (16th-18th centuries), before the nature of warfare changed significantly.
A line of fortification or entrenchment built by besieging forces facing outward to protect against attack by a relieving force.
Contravallation is usually specialized technical/historical in register.
Contravallation: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒn.trə.væˈleɪ.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːn.trə.væˈleɪ.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think CONTRA (against/opposite) + VALLATION (from 'vallum' Latin for wall). It's the wall built to face the COUNTRYside, to guard against COUNTER-attack, CONTRARY to the main siege direction.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN ENCIRCLEMENT IS A CONTAINER; The outer defensive line is a secondary, protective container around the besieging force itself.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a contravallation?