compensate

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb adjust for
  2. verb make amends for; pay compensation for
  3. verb make up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin compēnsātus, perfect passive participle of compensō (“to weight together one thing against another, balance, make good”), -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more.

In classic literature

Synonyms

counterbalance, correct, make up, even out, even off, even up

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