Pronunciation: ' käm-p ə n- ˌ s ā t, - ˌ pen-
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -sat · ed ; -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 compensate s for his lack of skill>
3 : to undergo or engage in psychological or physiological compensation
synonyms see PAY
– com · pen · sa · tive \ ' käm-p ə n- ˌ s ā -tiv, - ˌ pen-; k ə m- ' pen(t)-s ə - \ adjective
– com · pen · sa · tor \ ' käm-p ə n- ˌ s ā -t ə r, - ˌ pen- \ noun
– com · pen · sa · to · ry \ k ə m- ' pen(t)-s ə - ˌ to ̇ r- ē \ adjective