compensate

Where does the word "compensate" come from? It comes from Latin pendere, passing through Latin before entering English (1600s).

Compensate’s story begins in Latin: pendere meant “to weigh.” To weigh, giving rise to pensare (to weigh carefully, frequentative of pendere). Within Latin, it grew into compensare by ancient. To weigh together, to balance out, from com- and pensare. It reached English by 1600s as compensate. Settled as the English word for giving something to make up for a loss. Today, compensate means to give someone something, especially money, to make up for a loss or harm.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pendere "to weigh", to weigh, giving rise to pensare (to weigh carefully, frequentative of pendere).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient compensare "to weigh together, to balance out", to weigh together, to balance out, from com- and pensare.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s compensate "to give something to make up for a loss or harm", settled as the English word for giving something to make up for a loss.