Main Entry: com·pen·sate

Pronunciation: \ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt, -ˌpen-\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): com·pen·sat·ed; com·pen·sat·ing

Etymology: Latin compensatus, past participle of compensare, frequentative of compendere

Date: 1646

transitive verb 1 : to be equivalent to : counterbalance
2 : to make an appropriate and usually counterbalancing payment to <compensate the victims for their loss>
3 a : to provide with means of counteracting variation b : to neutralize the effect of (variations)intransitive verb 1 : to supply an equivalent —used with for
2 : to offset an error, defect, or undesired effect <his enthusiasm compensates for his lack of skill>
3 : to undergo or engage in psychological or physiological compensation

synonyms see pay

— com·pen·sa·tive \ˈkäm-pən-ˌsā-tiv, -ˌpen-; kəm-ˈpen(t)-sə-\ adjective

— com·pen·sa·tor \ˈkäm-pən-ˌsā-tər, -ˌpen-\ noun

— com·pen·sa·to·ry \kəm-ˈpen(t)-sə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective