compensate

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: com=pen=sate

CIDE DICTIONARY

compensate, v. t. [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.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  To be equivalent in value or effect to; to counterbalance; to make up for; to make amends for.  [1913 Webster]

  "The length of the night and the dews thereof do compensate the heat of the day."  [1913 Webster]

  "The pleasures of life do not compensate the miseries."

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

compensate, v. i. 

 To make amends; to supply an equivalent; -- followed by for; as, nothing can compensate for the loss of reputation.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

compensate, v.
1 tr. (often foll. by for) recompense (a person) (compensated him for his loss).
2 intr. (usu. foll. by for a thing, to a person) make amends (compensated for the insult; will compensate to her in full).
3 tr. counterbalance.
4 tr. Mech. provide (a pendulum etc.) with extra or less weight etc. to neutralize the effects of temperature etc.
5 intr. Psychol. offset a disability or frustration by development in another direction.

Derivative

compensative adj. compensator n. compensatory adj.

Etymology

L compensare (as COM-, pensare frequent. of pendere pens- weigh)

THESAURUS

compensate

abrogate, accommodate, adjust, alternate, amend, annul, atone, atone for, balance, bandy, be quits with, better, cancel, change, commute, cooperate, coordinate, correct, counteract, counterbalance, counterchange, counterpoise, countervail, cover, do penance, emend, equalize, equate, even, even up, exchange, expiate, fee, fill up, fit, fix up, get back at, get even with, get satisfaction, give and take, give satisfaction, guerdon, improve, indemnify, integrate, interchange, invalidate, level, live down, logroll, make all square, make amends, make compensation, make good, make matters up, make reparation, make requital, make restitution, make retribution, make right, make up, make up for, negate, negative, neutralize, nullify, offset, outweigh, pay, pay back, pay by installments, pay damages, pay off, pay on, pay reparations, pay the forfeit, pay the penalty, permute, poise, prepay, propitiate, proportion, put right, put straight, put to rights, quit, reciprocate, recompense, recoup, rectify, redeem, redress, refund, reimburse, remedy, remit, remunerate, render, repair, repay, requite, respond, retaliate, return, return the compliment, reward, right, salary, satisfy, set off, set right, set straight, set to rights, set up, square, square it, square things, strike a balance, swap, switch, tender, trade, transpose

ROGET THESAURUS

compensate

Compensation

VB make compensation, compensate, compense, indemnify, counteract, countervail, counterpoise, balance, outbalance, overbalance, counterbalance, set off, hedge, square, give and take, make up for, lee way, cover, fill up, neutralize, nullify, equalize, make good, redeem.

Restitution

VB return, restore, give back, carry back, bring back, render, render up, give up, let go, unclutch, disgorge, regorge, regurgitate, recoup, reimburse, compensate, indemnify, remit, rehabilitate, repair, reinvest, revest, reinstate, redeem, recover, take back again, revest, revert.

Reward

VB reward, recompense, repay, requite, remunerate, munerate, compensate, fee, pay one's footing, make amends, indemnify, atone, satisfy, acknowledge, get for one's pains, reap the fruits of, tip.