v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Compensated; p. pr. & vb. n. Compensating. ] [ 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. ] 1. 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 ]

2. 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. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

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

Syn. -- To recompense; remunerate; indemnify; reward; requite; counterbalance. [ 1913 Webster ]

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

adj. receiving or eligible for compensation.
Syn. -- remunerated, salaried, stipendiary. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. compensatio a weighing, a balancing of accounts. ] 1. The act or principle of compensating. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which constitutes, or is regarded as, an equivalent; that which makes good the lack or variation of something else; that which compensates for loss or privation; amends; remuneration; recompense. [ 1913 Webster ]

The parliament which dissolved the monastic foundations . . . vouchsafed not a word toward securing the slightest compensation to the dispossessed owners. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

No pecuniary compensation can possibly reward them. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) (a)The extinction of debts of which two persons are reciprocally debtors by the credits of which they are reciprocally creditors; the payment of a debt by a credit of equal amount; a set-off. Bouvier. Wharton. (b) A recompense or reward for some loss or service. (c) An equivalent stipulated for in contracts for the sale of real estate, in which it is customary to provide that errors in description, etc., shall not avoid, but shall be the subject of compensation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Compensation balance, or
Compensated balance, a kind of balance wheel for a timepiece. The rim is usually made of two different metals having different expansibility under changes of temperature, so arranged as to counteract each other and preserve uniformity of movement. --
Compensation pendulum. See Pendulum.

Syn. -- Recompense; reward; indemnification; consideration; requital; satisfaction; set-off. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. compensativus. ] Affording compensation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Compensation. [ R. ] Lamb. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, compensates; -- a name applied to various mechanical devices. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) An iron plate or magnet placed near the compass on iron vessels to neutralize the effect of the ship's attraction on the needle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Serving for compensation; making amends. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]