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compensate - 7 dictionary results

com⋅pen⋅sate

[kom-puhn-seyt] verb, -sat⋅ed, -sat⋅ing.
–verb (used with object)
1. to recompense for something: They gave him ten dollars to compensate him for his trouble.
2. to counterbalance; offset; be equivalent to: He compensated his homely appearance with great personal charm.
3. Mechanics. to counterbalance (a force or the like); adjust or construct so as to offset or counterbalance variations or produce equilibrium.
4. to change the gold content of (a monetary unit) to counterbalance price fluctuations and thereby stabilize its purchasing power.
–verb (used without object)
5. to provide or be an equivalent; make up; make amends (usually fol. by for): His occasional courtesies did not compensate for his general rudeness.
6. Psychology. to develop or employ mechanisms of compensation.

Origin:
1640–50; < L compēnsātus (ptp. of compēnsāre to counterbalance, orig., to weigh together). See com-, pensive, -ate 1


com⋅pen⋅sat⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
com⋅pen⋅sa⋅tor, noun


1. remunerate, reward, pay. 2. counterpoise, countervail. 5. atone.
com·pen·sate   (kŏm'pən-sāt')   
v.   com·pen·sat·ed, com·pen·sat·ing, com·pen·sates

v.   tr.
  1. To offset; counterbalance.
  2. To make satisfactory payment or reparation to; recompense or reimburse: Management compensated us for the time we worked.
  3. To stabilize the purchasing power of (a monetary unit) by changing the gold content in order to counterbalance price variations.
v.   intr.
To serve as or provide a substitute or counterbalance.

[Latin compēnsāre, compēnsāt- : com-, com- + pēnsāre, to weigh; see (s)pen- in Indo-European roots.]
com'pen·sa'tive (kŏm'pən-sā'tĭv, kəm-pěn'sə-tĭv) adj., com'pen·sa'tor n., com·pen'sa·to'ry (kəm-pěn'sə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē) adj.

Compensate

Com"pen*sate\ (? or ?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compensated; p. pr. & vb. n. Compensating.] [L. compensatus, p. p. of compensare, prop., to weigh several things with one another, to balance with one another, verb intens. fr. compendere. See Compendium.]

1. To make equal return to; to remunerate; to recompense; to give an equivalent to; to requite suitably; as, to compensate a laborer for his work, or a merchant for his losses.

2. To be equivalent in value or effect to; to counterbalance; to make up for; to make amends for.

The length of the night and the dews thereof do compensate the heat of the day. --Bacon.

The pleasures of life do not compensate the miseries. --Prior.

Syn: To recompense; remunerate; indemnify; reward; requite; counterbalance.

Compensate

Com"pen*sate\, v. i. To make amends; to supply an equivalent; -- followed by for; as, nothing can compensate for the loss of reputation.
Language Translation for : compensate
Spanish: indemnizar, compensar,
German: entschädigen,
Japanese: 補償する

compensate 
1646, 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). Compensation "salary or wages" first recorded 1787; meaning "amends for loss or damages" is from 1804.

Main Entry: com·pen·sate
Pronunciation: 'käm-p&n-"sAt, -"pen-
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -sat·ed; -sat·ing
: to make an appropriate and usually counterbalancing payment to <compensate the victims for their injuries> compensated for her work> —com·pen·sa·to·ry /k&m-'pen-s&-"tOr-E/ adjective

Main Entry: com·pen·sate
Pronunciation: 'käm-p&n-"sAt, -"pen-
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -sat·ed; -sat·ing
transitive senses
: to subject to or remedy by physiological compensation <compensated hypertensive patients> compensate intransitive senses
: to undergo or engage in psychic or physiological compensation compensate for inherent passivity>
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