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compensare

to compensate, to offset

verb kom-pen-SAH-reh Rare

Origin: From Latin compensare, 'to weigh together'.

Usage Note

Compensare means to make up for something — compensare una perdita (offset a loss) or compensare con lo stipendio (compensate with salary). In financial contexts it can also mean to set off debts against credits. It takes avere as its auxiliary.

Examples

"Le vendite estive compensano le perdite invernali."

Natural Translation

Summer sales offset the winter losses.

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