to make amends to (someone), esp for loss or injury
2.
(tr) to serve as compensation or damages for (injury, loss, etc)
3.
to offset or counterbalance the effects of (a force, weight, movement, etc) so as to nullify the effects of an undesirable influence and produce equilibrium
4.
(intr) to attempt to conceal or offset one's shortcomings by the exaggerated exhibition of qualities regarded as desirable
[C17: from Latin compēnsāre, from pensāre, from pendere to weigh]
1640s, from L. compensatus, pp. of compensare "to weigh one thing (against another)," thus, "to counterbalance," from com- "with" + pensare freq. of pendere "to weigh" (see pendant).