Webster's English Dictionary

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compensate

Cross references:
  1. pay                   
 
com.pen.sate \'ka:m-p*n-.sa-t, -.pen-\ \'ka:m-p*n-.sa-t-iv, -.pen-; 
   k*m-'pen(t)-s*t-\ \'ka:m-p*n-.sa-t-*r, -.pen-\ \k*m-'pen(t)-s*-.to-r-e-, 
   -to.r-\ vb [L compensatus, pp. of compensare, fr. compensus, pp. of 
   c]ompendere 1: to be equivalent to : COUNTERBALANCE  2: to make proper 
   payment to  3a: to provide with means of counteracting variation  3b: to 
   neutralize the effect of (variations)  1: to supply an equivalent - used 
   with for  2: to offset an error, defect, or undesired effect n to make up 
   for what is excessive or deficient, helpful or harmful in another. 
   COMPENSATE implies making up a lack or making amends for loss or injury; 
   COUNTERVAIL suggests counteracting a bad or harmful influence or the damage 
   suffered through it; BALANCE implies the equalizing or adjusting of two or 
   more things that are contrary or opposed so that no one outweighs the other 
   or others in effect; OFFSET implies neutralizing one thing's good or evil 
   effect by something that exerts a contrary effect - com.pen.sa.tive aj SYN 
   syn COMPENSATE, COUNTERVAIL, BALANCE, OFFSET mea